KISSIMMEE, Fla.--Four players from the BYU women's tennis team returned home today after participating in their first United States Tennis Association Collegiate Clay Court Invitational at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Tennis Center in Florida.
"It was a great experience to compete in this big event," BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. "One of the big aims of college tennis right now is to be relevant enough to get some air time on TV. Toby had the unique opportunity to have her first round singles match broadcast on ESPN, which was huge for her. The clay was challenging for us, but we did improve with each match we played."
Toby Miclat, Savannah Ware, Taylah Beckman and Demi Daniels all participated in the singles draws. Daniels and Ware teamed up as one doubles team, while Miclat and Beckman combined to make the other team.
All players lost in the first round of the main draw of doubles and singles. After losing to Florida State's Gabriella Casteneda 2-6, 1-6 in the first round, Miclat made it to the quarterfinals of the Gold Consolation bracket before losing to Georgia's Mariana Gould 6-4, 4-6, 6-10.
In doubles, Miclat and Beckman lost 7-8 to Stetson's Eveline Lepinay and Maja Salibasic, while Ware and Daniels lost 3-8 to Virginia Tech's Raluca Mita and Kelly Williford. Mita and Williford would make it to the semi-finals of the bracket before losing to the second place team.
For results from the Invitational, visit http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?DB_OEM_ID=32900&T=179357#&&s=8Results0.
This is the last fall tournament for the Cougars before they begin season play in January. They will head to Virginia January 22 and 23 for the International Tennis Association's Kickoff Weekend tournament.