Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Santa Barbara on January 18, 2026

11/5/2011 12:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Nov. 5, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY- Freshman Sammie Watson of the University of Utah women's tennis won the singles-B draw title Saturday, at the Utah Invitational. Sophomore Sarah Pham knocked out a win in the semifinals of singles-A draw to advance to Sunday's finals. The freshman duo of Natasha Smith and Danielle Flores netted two wins on the second day of play to advance to the doubles finals. The final day of play begins with the doubles finals at 10 a.m. MT, followed by the singles-A draw finals.
In the singles-B draw, Watson topped Aubrey Paul of BYU 7-6(3), 3-6, 7-6(5), in the finals to capture the crown. Earlier in the day, the Ute defeated BYU's Desiree Tran 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, in the semifinals.
In singles-A draw play, Pham notched a 7-5, 6-2, win over LSU's Olivia Howlett in the semifinals to advance to the finals where the Ute will face 52nd-ranked Whitney Wolf of LSU.
Flores dropped a 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, decision to Wolf in the semifinals.
In additional singles play, freshman Natasha Smith captured a 6-4, 3-6, 10-4, win over Boise State's Marlena Pietzuch.
In doubles play, Smith and Flores downed Wyoming's Christa Gecheva and Alma Espinosa 8-3 in the quarterfinals before besting LSU's Howlett in Yvette Vlaar 8-3 in the semifinals. The Ute duo will take on the team of Wolf and Keri Frankenberger in the finals.
The Utah tandem of Pham and sophomore Lucia Kovarcikova defeated Sasa Nemcova and Alexandra Kovacs of Wyoming 9-8 in the quarterfinals before falling to Wolf and Frankenberger 8-6 in the semifinals.
In other women's tennis action at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational, senior Anastasia Putilina, ranked No. 64, notched a 6-3, 6-2, win over Ohio State's Gabby Steele.
2011 Utah Invitational--Day Two Results
(Saturday, Nov. 5)
Doubles Quarterfinals
Kovarcikova/Pham (Utah) def. Nemcova/Kovacs (Wyo) 9-8 Smith/Flores (Utah) def. Gecheva/Espinosa (Wyo) 8-3
Doubles Semifinals
Wolf/Frankenberger (LSU) def. Kovarcikova/Pham (Utah) 8-6 Smith/Flores (Utah) def. Howlett/Vlaar (LSU) 8-3
Singles-A Semifinals
#52 Whitney Wolf (LSU) def. Danielle Flores (Utah) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 Sarah Pham (Utah) def. Olivia Howlett (LSU) 7-5, 6-2
Singles-A Consolation Semifinals
Kaitlin Burns (LSU) def. Lucia Kovarcikova (Utah) 7-6, 0-6, 12-10
Singles-B Semifinals
Sammie Watson (Utah) def. Desiree Tran (BYU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Singles-B Finals
Sammie Watson (Utah) def. Aubrey Paul (BYU) 7-6(3), 3-6, 7-6(5)
Added Matches
Natasha Smith (Utah) def. Marlena Pietzuch (BSU) 6-4, 3-6, 10-4
ASU Thunderbird Invitational--Day Two Results
(Saturday, Nov. 5)
Consolation Singles-Second Round
#64 Anastasia Putilina (Utah) def. Gabby Steele (OSU) 6-3, 6-2
Added Matches
Callie Craig (Utah) vs. Anna Livadaru (Northwestern) results unavailable