TUCSON, Ariz. — BYU Women's Tennis kicked off the season in style, securing three victories in Arizona over the weekend and starting the year 3-0.
The Cougars (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) triumphed over Arizona, Missouri, and Michigan State in matches hosted by the Wildcats on Friday and Saturday. This marked BYU's first 3-0 start since 2021 when they opened the season with five consecutive victories.
"I couldn't be happier with our performance this weekend," said head coach Holly Hasler. "Arizona was a tough battle, and I was worried it wore us out. Turns out, it lit a fire, and we kept fighting harder as the weekend continued. Everyone stepped up at different times to clinch the win when needed. Overall, it was a great team effort, and it's exciting to see that we are all in and ready for the season."
Arizona
Doubles
Lauren Friedman/Brandelyn Fulgenzi (UA) def. Emilee Astle/Jacque Dunyon (BYU) 6-4
Bobo Huang/Kaavya Sawhney (BYU) def. Reece Carter/Martyna Ostrzygalo (UA) 6-3
Tina Li/Kara Wheatley (BYU) def. Midori Castillo-Meza/Belen Nevenhoven (UA) 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
The Cougars bounced back after dropping the first doubles match, securing two straight wins to claim their first doubles point of the season.
In their debut as a doubles tandem, Huang and Sawhney secured the first doubles match victory of the year for BYU. Li and Wheatley then sealed the doubles point.
Singles
Bobo Huang (BYU) def. Reece Carter (UA) 7-6(8), 6-3
Tina Li (BYU) def. Martyna Ostrzygalo (UA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Teja Tirunelveli (UA) def. Jacque Dunyon (BYU) 6-4, 7-6
Kara Wheatley (BYU) def. Kayla Wilkins (UA) 7-5, 7-5
Kendall Kovick (BYU) uf. Midori Castillo-Meza (UA) 3-6, 7-6(4), 1-2
Maddy Smith (BYU) uf. Tanvi Narendran (UA) 6-4, 3-6, 2-4
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2, 4
Huang secured the first singles victory of the season for the Cougars, following her recent Big 12 Player of the Week recognition. Despite Dunyon's tough two-set contest loss, Li and Wheatley's victories led to BYU's overall match victory.
Kovick's and Smith's matches remained unfinished.
Missouri
Doubles
No. 16 Inah Canete/Mae Canete (MU) def. Emilee Astle/Jacque Dunyon (BYU) 6-2
Bobo Huang/Kaavya Sawhney (BYU) def. Roma Cardenas Rifka/Gabriela Martinez (MU) 6-1
Tina Li/Kara Wheatley (BYU) def. Andrea Artimedi/Emelie Schwarte (MU) 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
Missouri secured the first doubles win of the match as the No. 16 doubles tandem in the country, Inah Canete and Mae Canete, took down Astle and Dunyon, 6-2.
However, the Cougars rallied to claim two consecutive doubles victories, with Li and Wheatley securing their second win together of the weekend, and Huang and Sawhney clinching the doubles point for BYU.
Singles
Bobo Huang (BYU) unf. Mae Canete (MU) 4-6, 5-3
Tina Li (BYU) def. Inah Canete (MU) 6-2, 6-4
Gabriela Martinez (MU) def. Jacque Dunyon (BYU) 7-6(0), 6-0
Kara Wheatley (BYU) def. Emelie Schwarte (MU) 7-5, 6-3
Kendall Kovick (BYU) def. Roma Cardenas Rifka (MU) 6-0, 6-2
Emilee Astle (BYU) unf. Andrea Artimedi (MU) 7-5, 3-4
Order of finish: 5, 2, 3, 4
Kovick quickly ignited BYU with her first singles victory as a Cougar, defeating Artimedi in a swift two sets.
Li picked up right where she left off yesterday, securing her second singles win of the year with a two-set victory over I. Canete.
Once again, it was Wheatley for BYU, clinching the overall match for the Cougars with another two-set victory over Schwarte, propelling them to a 2-0 record on the season.
Astle's and Huang's matches were left unfinished.
Michigan State
Doubles
Emilee Astle/Kendall Kovick (BYU) def. Ayshe Can/Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) 6-2
Bobo Huang/Kaavya Sawhney (BYU) def. Nicole Conrad/Issey Purser (MSU) 6-1
Tina Li/Kara Wheatley (BYU) uf. Marley Lambert/Mati Morais (MSU) 2-4
Order of finish: 2, 1
BYU secured its third doubles point of the weekend with dominant performances from Astle/Kovick and Huang/Sawhney, maintaining a perfect doubles record for the season.
Singles
Bobo Huang (BYU) def. Mati Morais (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
Tina Li (BYU) def. Liisa Vehvilainen (MSU) 6-1, 6-2
Kaavya Sawhney (BYU) uf. Issey Purser (MSU) 6-1, 6-6 (2-5)
Kara Wheatley (BYU) uf. Ria Bhakta (MSU) 2-6, 2-5
Kendall Kovick (BYU) def. Nicole Conrad (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
Maddy Smith (BYU) uf. Marley Lambert (MSU) 6-4, 4-5
Order of finish: 2, 1, 5
Li's third singles victory of the weekend, Huang's second singles win, and Smith's clinching victory completed the three-match sweep over Arizona, Missouri, and Michigan State on Friday and Saturday.
The Cougars will next prepare for their Blue vs. White match on Jan. 27, starting at 9:30 am, and is free to the public.