PROVO, Utah – In the first home match of the season, BYU women's tennis fell 4-3 to Denver Saturday at the BYU indoor courts.
"I was happy with the way we performed in doubles today because we've been working on that a lot lately, and it was nice to pull out a tight doubles point," BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said."In the singles matches that we lost, it wasn't a matter of them playing better than us, but more about us beating ourselves and reacting negatively."
The Cougars (1-2) started strong in doubles play with juniors Mayci Jones and Toby Miclat combining to win the first doubles matchup 7-5 over the Pioneer's Julia O'Loughlin and Maureen Slatterly. Juniors Natella Nabieva and Savannah Ware clinched the point for the Cougars with a close 7-6 (7-2) victory over Evy Van Genechten and Charlotte Derbyshire.
In singles, senior Nicolette Poulsen finished first, winning 6-0, 6-2, at the fourth singles spot. Ware fell 6-1, 6-1, at the No. 3 spot and Jones lost 6-2, 6-3, in first singles and Denver (6-1) tied the score 2-2.
After losing the first set 6-2, Miclat battled back at the No. 2 singles spot to win the second and third sets 6-2, 7-5, to give BYU the 3-2 lead. Freshman Taylah Beckman fell 7-5, 6-4, in sixth singles and Nabieva dropped the No. 5 singles matchup moments later, 7-5, 6-4, to end the match.
The Cougars travel to Columbia, Mo., to face Wichita State on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 11:00 a.m. CST. Check the BYU schedule page for live stats.
#69 University of Denver 4, BYU 3
Singles competition
1. Julia O'Loughlin (DEN) def. Mayci Jones (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Toby Miclat (BYU) def. Maureen Slatterly (DEN) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Bianca Mok (DEN) def. Savannah Ware (BYU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Nicolette Poulsen (BYU) def. Charlotte Derbyshire (DEN) 6-0, 6-2
5. Evy Van Genechten (DEN) def. Natella Nabieva (BYU) 7-5, 6-4
6. Morgan Barnhill (DEN) def. Taylah Beckman (BYU) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Mayci Jones/Toby Miclat (BYU) def. Julia O'Loughlin/Maureen Slatterly (DEN) 7-5
2. Morgan Barnhill/Bianca Mok (DEN) def. Taylah Beckman/Nicolette Poulsen (BYU) 6-4
3. Natella Nabieva/Savannah Ware (BYU) def. Evy Van Genechten/Charlotte Derbyshire (DEN) 7-6 (7-2)
Match Notes
University of Denver (6-1) National ranking #69, BYU (1-2)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,3,1,2,6,5)