Talented newcomers and strong returning starters helped the BYU women’s tennis team in 2011 as the players fought in a year of rebuilding for their program.
Callie Craig and Megan Price both earned spots on the All-Mountain West Conference singles and doubles teams for this season’s performance. The duo ranked as high as No. 53 during the year, while the team sat at No. 73 for the first month of competition.
Freshman Craig thrived in her first year as a Cougar, pulling off a 22-13 singles record and 22-11 doubles record with Price, placing fifth in the BYU record books for season doubles victories. In fall tournament play, Craig took the BYU Invitational singles title after a three-hour, three-set battle against Veronica Popovici of Wyoming.
Craig and Price also took the tournament doubles title. Prior to conference play, the duo defeated No. 22 Kristi Boxx and Abby Guthrie of Ole Miss 8-3. At the Mountain Region Championships in October, Craig and Price reached the Round of 16 and were the last Cougar pair in the doubles tournament.
Senior Elle Carney reached the singles Round of 16 in the region championships and went on to earn a 5-3 singles record in conference play. Carney ends her BYU career with 55 singles and 60 doubles wins. With sophomore Aubrey Paul, Carney earned an 11-5 doubles record.
Carney teamed up with Price during the Memphis Hidden Duel to defeat No. 51 Kaitlyn Ritchie and Mallory Weber of Missouri 8-6. That performance, combined with the win against Boxx and Guthrie, won Megan Price a MWC Player of the Week award.
The Cougars went on a four-match winning streak at the beginning of conference play, defeating No. 72 Wyoming in the process. Finishing the regular season fifth in the MWC, BYU fell in the quarterfinals of the MWC Championships to No. 71 TCU 4-1 despite winning the doubles point to start the match.
The Cougars lose two from their lineup for the 2011-12 season, but will add Morgan Anderson from St. George, Utah, and Meghan Sheehan-Dizon from Murrieta, Calif.