ORLANDO, Fla. — BYU’s doubles team of Kendall Kovick and Gracie Levelston capped off a historic postseason Friday with a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) loss to North Carolina’s Brantmeier and Hamilton in the NCAA Doubles Championship round of 16.
Kovick and Levelston battled through a competitive first set, matching UNC’s pace and holding steady on serve until the Tar Heels secured a late break to take the opener. The Cougars responded with their strongest stretch of the match in the second set, elevating their net play, attacking returns and pushing UNC into longer exchanges.
Their momentum carried into a tight tiebreak, where the Cougars fought off five match points and continued to apply pressure. North Carolina ultimately closed out the set, but not before BYU extended the match with some of its most composed and energetic tennis of the season.
Head coach Holly Hasler praised the duo’s fight and competitive drive.
“Kendall and Gracie showed incredible grit tonight,” Hasler said. “They fought off five match points and brought great energy from start to finish. Even though the match did not go our way, I could not be more proud of the way they competed and represented BYU on the national stage. Their performance reflects the growth of our program and the type of competitors they are. They have much to be proud of.”
Kovick and Levelston conclude their NCAA appearance as the first BYU women’s doubles team since 1993 to advance to the round of 16, marking a milestone moment for the program.