ORLANDO, Fla. — No. 37 BYU delivered a dramatic comeback to defeat No. 35 Utah, 4-2, on Wednesday at the USTA National Campus, punching its ticket to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Women’s Tennis Championship.
In a rivalry clash packed with intensity and momentum swings, the Cougars dropped the doubles point but roared back in singles, winning four matches with authority to secure the victory.
Utah seized the early advantage with wins on courts one and three in doubles. BYU’s pairing of YuYun Chen and Sage Bergeson provided the highlight for the Cougars, firing off aggressive returns and controlling the net in a convincing 6-2 victory on court two.
Trailing 1-0, BYU flipped the script in singles with relentless baseline play and clutch shot-making. Bergeson ignited the comeback with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 5, using powerful groundstrokes and precise placement to overwhelm her opponent.
Moments later, No. 109-ranked Gracie Levelston showcased her composure at the top of the lineup, delivering a commanding 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles. Levelston dictated play with clean winners and steady service games, giving the Cougars their first lead of the afternoon.
Sue Yan Tan extended BYU’s advantage at No. 3 singles, grinding through long rallies and capitalizing on key break points to secure a poised 6-3, 6-4 win. Her consistency from the baseline proved pivotal in pushing the Cougars closer to victory.
Karina Mohamed delivered the clincher at No. 6, battling through a tight opening set before pulling away for a 7-5, 6-2 triumph. With a blistering forehand winner, Mohamed sealed the match and sparked an emotional celebration from the Cougar sideline.
Utah’s lone singles point came at No. 2, while a three-set battle between Chen and Kaila Barksdale at No. 4 remained unfinished when the match was decided.
With the win, BYU improved to 17-7 on the season, demonstrating resilience, depth and championship composure on the conference stage.
Up Next
The Cougars advance to face No. 1 seed UCF, ranked No. 20 nationally in the ITA rankings, on Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. ET (4 p.m. MT).