COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — Four Cougars are set to kick off the 2023-24 BYU women's tennis season at the U.S. Air Force Academy this weekend. The ITA Bedford Cup in the Mountains will feature both singles and doubles draws for players from nine schools.
BYU’s roster includes Emmie Moore, Maddy Smith, Bitsy Tullis, and Kara Wheatley, who will compete in singles and doubles matches on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Sept. 14-16.
Tournament Schedule and Format
Doubles play will commence at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, with singles matches beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday.
Singles: 5 compass draws, with a maximum of 16 players in each. 3 singles matches are guaranteed, if there are no byes, all players should get 4 matches. Players will be entered into the draws based on coach input/UTR & WTN.
Doubles: 1 draw, with a maximum of 32 teams. There will be a back draw for first-round losers. 2 doubles matches are guaranteed. A smaller draw for any players not in 32 doubles draw.
Scoring: All singles matches will be best of 3 tiebreak sets with full 3rd sets. Doubles matches will be one tiebreak set to 8.
The Cougars
The sophomore hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, returns after a successful freshman season, boasting 14 singles wins and five doubles victories.
A junior from Henderson, Nevada, Smith has six career singles victories and four career doubles wins to her name.
Tullis, a sophomore from Centerville, Utah, rejoins the team after recently completing a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Lima, Peru. Tullis recorded three singles wins and six doubles wins during her freshman season in 2020-21.
The junior hailing from Provo, Utah, will look to make an impact for the Cougars in 2023-24.
Coaching Staff
Head coach Holly Hasler is in her sixth season at BYU, entering the year with a 58-46 all-time record with the Cougars.
Assistant coach Gabby Curtis, in her third season with the Cougars, played collegiately at USC, amassing 72 career singles wins and 73 career doubles victories during her time with the Trojans from 2015-2017.
The Field
BYU and tournament host Air Force will be joined by Boise State, Colorado State, Denver, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana State, New Mexico, Utah State, and Wyoming. Matches will take place on the USAFA Intercollegiate Outdoor Tennis Courts.