Utes Notch a 6-1 Win Over Kansas State

Friday, February 22

Salt Lake City, Utah

2:00 PM

University of Utah

Kansas State

2/22/2008 12:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Feb. 22, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah women's tennis team (66) held their composure and then some on Friday night's battle against the Kansas State Wildcats (68). The Utes dominated the competition with a 6-1 victory.

To kick off the match, Utah's doubles teams came ready to battle. Last year the Utes failed to win doubles when they faced the Wildcats for a 5-2 loss, so this year they were in the hunt for the win.

Erin Monson and Andrea Maughan were the first to finish up, posting an 8-5 win over Vanessa Cottin and Pauline Guernas at the No. 3 spot. Teaming up at the No. 2 spot, Leigh Walsh and Evgenia Kryuchkova got into a heated battle against Viviana Yrureta and Antea Huljev from the Wildcats. The Utes took the win at 8-3, with a very upset Yrureta.

No. 41 Emily Kwok and Elizabeth Ferris finished up last for the Utes at the top spot. The Ute duo faced Katerina Kudlackova and Olga Klimova for an 8-3 win.

There was a change in Kansas State's line-up heading into singles play, leaving them without their No. 1 player (Viviana Yrureta) and the entire line-up being shifted up. No. 44 Ferris faced Kansas State's Cottin for a 6-0, 6-0 sweep to start off singles play for the Utes.

At No. 4 singles, Monson battled Vieira for an easy 6-3, 6-0 win to give Utah a 3-0 lead. Kryuchkova clinched the match for Utah at the No. 2 spot. The Ute took the first set 6-2 over Kudlackova, but the Wildcat was willing to fight in the second set. Kudlackova kept hitting cross-court shots to move Kryuchkova around, but the Ute settled in to take the win at 6-2, 6-3.

Kwok returned to the singles line-up on Friday at the No. 3 slot for the Utes. She faced Huljev from the Wildcats for an intense battle of endurance and tennis smarts. Huljev took the first set, sliding by with a 7-5 win. Kwok stepped up her game to earn a 6-3 win in the second set to send them into a tie-breaker. Huljev and Kwok were both ready to fight for their points, but with her teammates cheering her on, Kwok landed the win at 5-7, 6-4 (10-8).

The night ended with a hard fought battle at the No. 6 slot. Karine Bourdages took on Olga Klimova from the Wildcats. They each won a set at 6-2 to send them into a tie-breaker. Bourdages fell behind at the beginning, but came back to almost take the win. Unfortunately, Klimova had the final say, taking the win at 6-2, 2-6 (10-8)

Tomorrow the Utes will take on Denver and Utah State at home.

#66 Utah 6, #68 Kansas State 1Doubles:1. #41 Ferris/Kwok (Utah) def. Kudlackova/Klimova (KSU); 8-32. Walsh/ Kryuchkova (Utah) def. Yrureta/ Huljev (KSU); 8-33. Maughan/Monson (Utah) def. Cottin/ Guernas (KSU); 8-5
Singles:1. #44 Elizabeth Ferris (Utah) def. Vanessa Cottin (KSU); 6-0, 6-02. Evgenia Kryuchkova (Utah) def. Katerina Kudlackova (KSU); 6-2, 6-33. Emily Kwok (Utah) def. Antea Huljev (KSU); 5-7, 6-4(10-8)4. Erin Monson (Utah) def. Natasha Vieira (KSU); 6-3, 6-05. Leigh Walsh (Utah) def. Pauline Guernas (KSU); 6-7, 6-3(10-5)6. Olga Klimova (KSU def. Karine Bourdages (Utah); 6-2, 2-6 (10-8)