SAN DIEGO – Led by sophomore Kate Cusick and senior Mayci Jones, the BYU women's tennis team defeated San Diego State 5-2 to finish off its three-match road trip 2-1.
"Today was a big day. We talked about coming back strong after a tough loss and the girls did just that," said BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer. "To win five out of six singles matches on the road is tough to do, but my girls wanted it and fought hard. It was a great ending to our first road trip of the season."
Doubles partners Cusick and Jones brought the Cougars (3-1) their first match victory of the day against the Aztecs (5-2). In No. 2 doubles, the duo beat Jana Buth and Paola Dias of San Diego State 6-4. However, the Aztecs fought back to secure the first point of the match. In No. 3 doubles sophomores Samantha Smith and Polina Malykh were just edged out by San Diego State's Magda Aubets and Nnena Nadozie 6-4.
Freshman Anastasia Abramyan and junior Taylah Beckman in No. 1 doubles were defeated by San Diego State's Jenny Moinard and Mia Smith 6-4 to give the Aztecs the 1-0 lead to start the match.
Down a point, Abramyan helped the Cougars get on the board with a convincing win over Aubets in No. 2 singles, winning 6-0, 6-3. Malykh, who remains undefeated in regular season singles play (4-0), in No. 5 singles gave BYU its first lead of the day taking down the Aztecs' Abbie Mulbarger 6-2, 6-3 and making it 2-1. Freshman Hermehr Kaur at No. 6 singles extended the Cougars' lead with a victory over SDSU's Mia Smith 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 to put the Cougars up 3-1.
The Aztecs cut the lead to one in No. 3 singles as Moinard defeated freshman Madeline Almeida 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 giving the true freshman her first loss of the season in singles play. With the score 3-2 for BYU, Cusick clinched the dual match in No. 4 singles in a battle against Nadozie. The two traded sets throughout the match, including a tiebreaker in the first set, but Cusick overcame Nadozie 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2 keeping Cusick's regular season singles play perfect (4-0) and making it 4-2 for BYU.
In the final match of the day in No. 1 singles Jones competed against Buth in an intense match that ended with a tiebreaker in the first set. After losing the tiebreaker, Jones came back to beat Buth 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4 and give the Cougars the 5-2 victory over the Aztecs.
BYU returns to Provo to compete against Denver at home on Friday, Feb. 16 at 12:00 p.m. MST. Live streaming and stats will be available on team's online schedule.
Match results:
Doubles competition:
1. Jenny Moinard/Mia Smith (SDSU) def. Anastasia Abramyan/Taylah Beckman (BYU) 6-4
2. Mayci Jones/Kate Cusick (BYU) def. Jana Buth/Paola Diaz (SDSU) 6-4
3. Magda Aubets/Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) def. Samantha Smith/Polina Malykh (BYU) 6-4
Singles competition
1. Mayci Jones (BYU) def. Jana Buth (SDSU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4
2. Anastasia Abramyan (BYU) def. Magda Aubets (SDSU) 6-0, 6-3
3. Jenny Moinard (SDSU) def. Madeline Almeida (BYU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
4. Kate Cusick (BYU) def. Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2
5. Polina Malykh (BYU) def. Abbie Mulbarger (SDSU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Hermehr Kaur (BYU) def. Mia Smith (SDSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,5,6,3,4,1)