Utah Defeats BYU, 5-2 in Deseret First Duel

Saturday, March 2

Provo, Utah

11:00 AM

University of Utah

BYU

3/2/2013 12:00 AM | Women's Tennis

March 2, 2013

Results

PROVO, Utah - The University of Utah women's tennis team (5-2) topped BYU (5-2) by a score of 5-2 Saturday in the Deseret First Duel at the Indoor Tennis Courts. Junior Paige Miles captured the match clincher for Utah from the No. 6 singles position.

"It was a challenge playing BYU on the road and indoors," said head coach Mat Iandolo. "But we were able to compete well and we came away with a good win."

Utah started the day off strong, quickly capturing the doubles point after sweeping all three sets. At the No. 1 position, 17th-ranked junior Paige Miles and sophomore Tereza Bekerova vanquished Meghan Sheehan-Dizon and Nicolette Tran, 8-3.

Juniors Sarah Pham and Callie Craig then teamed up at the No. 3 slot to capture the doubles point for Utah with an 8-3 win over Aubrey Paul and Desiree Tran, 8-3.

With the doubles point in hand for Utah, junior Elena Najera-Salas and sophomore Natasha Smith topped Morgan Anderson and Mackenna Maddox at the second spot, 7-6.

The Utes went into singles play up 1-0, but the Cougars quickly tied the score at 1-1 when Najera-Salas dropped a 6-1, 6-0 decision to Nicolette Tran at the No. 4 singles position. BYU then went up 2-1 when Pham suffered a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Anderson at the second slot.

Down, but certainly not out, the Utes rallied and took the next four singles matches. At the No. 3 spot, Craig downed Sheehan-Dizon, 7-6(6), 6-0 tying the score at 2-2.

No. 79 Bekerova then captured a tight 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Desiree Tran at the top spot, putting Utah back up at 3-2 and setting up Miles for the match deciding point.

Miles then routed Paul at the No. 6 slot, 6-3, 6-2, capturing the match clincher at 4-2. Finally, Smith posted Utah's final point in a three-set thriller over Maddox at the No. 5 spot, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Utah returns to action at home at the Eccles Tennis Center to host Wyoming Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Utah 5, BYU 2Doubles1. Bekerova/Miles (UU) def. Sheehan-Dizon/N. Tran (BYU) 8-32. Najera-Salas/Smith (UU) def. Anderson/Maddox (BYU) 7-63. Craig/Pham (UU) def. Paul/D. Tran (BYU) 8-3Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles1. Tereza Bekerova (UU) def. Desiree Tran (BYU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-32. Morgan Anderson (BYU) def. Sarah Pham (UU) 6-3, 6-43. Callie Craig (UU) def. Meghan Sheehan-Dizon (BYU) 7-6(6), 6-04. Nicolette Tran (BYU) def. Elena Najera-Salas (UU) 6-1, 6-05. Natasha Smith (UU) def. Mackenna Maddox (BYU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-06. Paige Miles (UU) def. Aubrey Paul (BYU) 6-3, 6-2Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 1, 6*, 5