BYU shows dominance in first tournament of women's tennis fall season

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Three Cougars competed in the SoCal Intercollegiate Championships this weekend and left with several victories for the women's tennis team, with Grace Levelston placing second in her singles draw.

"It was a great start to the season," said assistant coach Anastasia Hayden. "Bitsy and Gracie played some powerful doubles, and Gracie had a great run in the tournament into the finals. I'm excited to continue to learn and develop our game as the season progresses."

Hiba Heni (0-3), Bitsy Tullis (0-2), and no. 8 Grace Levelston (4-1) competed in the singles draw starting on Sep. 19. No. 4 doubles team Tullis and Levelston (2-1) also began doubles competition on Thursday.

Singles Results

R-32

• No. 6 Gloria Alogo Piqueras (SDSU) def. Hiba Heni (BYU), 6-0, 6-0
• Zoe Olmos (SDSU) def. Bitsy Tullis (BYU), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
• No. 8 Grace Levelston (BYU) vs. Filippa Bruu-Syversen (USD), WD [Inj]

R-16

• Grace Levelston (BYU) def. Sara Akid (U of U), 6-2, 6-1

Quarterfinals

• Grace Levelston (BYU) def. Jo-Yee Chan (SDSU), 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)

Semifinals

• Grace Levelston (BYU) def. Karsyn Evans (ASU), 6-2, 6-0

Finals

• No. 1 Emilija Tverijonaite (ASU) def. Grace Levelston (BYU), 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3)

Consolation Matches

• Silvia Maria Costache (UNR) def. Bitsy Tullis (BYU), 7-5, 6-2
• Olaya Bances Iglesias (SJSU) def. Hiba Heni (BYU), 6-2, 7-5
• Silvia Maria Costache (UNR) def. Hiba Heni (BYU), 6-0, 6-3

Heni and Tullis put up a fight in their first-round and consolation matches, and Levelston advanced to the second round after her opponent withdrew due to injury. Levelston continued her winning streak and advanced through the finals, putting up a tough fight against No. 1-ranked Emilija Tverijonaite.

Doubles Results

R-16

• No. 4 Tullis/Levelston (BYU) def. Durgun/Bances Iglesias (SJSU), 6-2

Quarterfinals

• Tullis/Levelston (BYU) def. Tverijonaite/Nupbay (ASU), 6-2

Semifinals

• No. 1 Spaka/Svetac (ASU) def. Tullis/Levelston (BYU), 6-1

Tullis and Levelston made a successful debut as a doubles team, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament to lose to the No. 1 doubles team.

Women's tennis athletes Sue Yan Tan, Kendall Kovick and Bobo Huang are currently competing in the ITA All-American Championships in Cary, North Carolina, until late September. The Cougars will then return to California in early October for the Women of Troy Invitational.