LOS ANGELES – With the match on the line, junior Mayci Jones clinched at No. 1 singles as BYU women’s tennis defeated Loyola Marymount 4-3 on Saturday.
“Today was a battle, but I was proud of the way we fought and came back after being down 1-3,” BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “Natella (Nabieva) played well, winning quick in her match and Nic (Poulsen) made a quick comeback after losing her first set. Taylah (Beckman) stayed tough after dropping a tight first set and Mayci clinched the win in her tight three set match. It was a great team effort today. ”
After BYU freshman Taylah Beckman won at sixth singles to tie the match 3-3, Jones headed to a tiebreak in the third set against LMU’s Jessica Perez. Jones outlasted Perez in the deciding third set winning the tiebreaker 7-5 to give BYU its third West Coast Conference victory of the season.
In doubles, Jones and junior Toby Miclat started off strong with a 6-2 win over LMU’s Perez and Elvira Juravliova at the No. 1 spot. The Lions answered with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 slots to score the first point of the match.
In singles competition, play remained close with junior Natella Nabieva tying the match for the Cougars with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory at fifth singles.
LMU built a 3-1 lead after Miclat fell 6-3, 6-3 to Andrea Crespo and Anna Romeka defeated junior Savannah Ware 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 4 spot.
Senior Nicolette Poulsen sparked the Cougars’ comeback with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over the Loyola Marymount’s Juravliova at third singles. Beckman, playing sixth singles for BYU, tied the match with a 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Ellie Grossman before Jones clinched with the 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 (7-5) win.
BYU returns home to host Saint Mary’s on Friday, April 22, at noon MDT. Admission is free to the public and free pizza will be provided.
BYU 4, LMU 3
Singles competition
1. Mayci Jones (BYU) def. Jessica Perez (LMU) 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5)
2. Andrea Crespo (LMU) def. Toby Miclat (BYU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Nicolette Poulsen (BYU) def. Elvira Juravliova (LMU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
4. Anna Romeka (LMU) def. Savannah Ware (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Natella Nabieva (BYU) def. Tatijana Sheikhan (LMU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Taylah Beckman (BYU) def. Ellie Grossman (LMU) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Mayci Jones/Toby Miclat (BYU) def. Jessica Perez/Elvira Juravliova (LMU) 6-2
2. Andrea Crespo/Julia Norlin (LMU) def. Nicolette Poulsen/Savannah Ware (BYU) 6-2
3. Anna Romeka/Tatijana Sheikhan (LMU) def. Natella Nabieva/Taylah Beckman (BYU) 6-4
Match Notes:
BYU 5-14, 3-4 WCC
LMU 8-11, 3-4 WCC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,2,4,3,6,1)