BERKELEY, Calif. – After facing tough competition on Friday, four BYU women’s tennis players advanced to the quarterfinals of the Cal Nike Invitational at University of California, Berkeley.
In the Gold doubles bracket, No. 1 seeded partners Savannah Ware and Samantha Smith defeated Sacramento’s Car. Chernyetski and Sofia Wicker 8-1. Freshman Kate Cusick and partner Natella Nabieva defeated Andie Mouzes and Anna Nau, another Sacramento duo, 8-2.
Cusick, a No. 3 seed in the White Singles bracket, will also compete in the quarterfinals after defeating UC Davis' Kamila Kecki in the first round and securing a win in the Round of 16 after Pacific’s Sabrina Rodriguez ended the match due to injury.
In the Blue Singles bracket, seniors Ware and Mayci Jones both advanced to the Round of 16 after finding victories over Pacific opponents. Ware was then defeated by California’s Olivia Hauger 6-3, 6-2 and Jones was defeated by Arizona State’s Kassidy Jump 6-3, 6-1. Polina Malykh lost to No. 5 seed Jana McCord from Saint Mary's in the first round 6-4, 6-0 and was later defeated by UC Davis' LaniRae Green 6-3, 6-4 in the consolation bracket.
Nabieva advanced to the Round of 16 in the Gold Singles bracket after the match against Nevada’s Sofia Blaga Delic was retired at 4-0 due to injury. Nabieva was then defeated by No. 2 seeded Jacqueln Pelletier (Saint Mary's) 6-1, 6-2.
In the Gold singles consolation bracket, Smith defeated Santa Clara's Cailtyn Frankel 2-6, 6-2, 1-0, 7-6 while Taylah Beckman defeated Sacramento’s Andie Mouzes 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles partners Jones and Polina Malykh fell to UCLA’s Jada Hart and Terri Fleming in a close tiebreaker 8-7(6) in the first round of the Blue Doubles bracket.
Results from Saturday’s matches will be updated late Saturday night. Follow this link to the tournament page for draws and updated results.