Utes Begin Spring Season Strong at FGCU Invite

Saturday, January 14

Fort Myers, Fla.

All Day

University of Utah

FGCU Invitational

1/14/2017 8:08 PM | Women's Tennis

Fort Myers, Fla.-- In the first day of competition at the FGCU Invitational, the Utes picked up multiple singles wins and dominated doubles competition.

The Utes started the day strong with three doubles wins against Northwestern State. Brianna Turley and Margo Pletcher defeated Polina Ivanova and Vladislava Litvinova, 6-1 while Taylor Calton and Jena Cheng defeated Iryna Vardanian and Kateryna Avram and newcomer Whitney Turley teamed with Alexia Petrovic for a victory over Judit Castillo and Emilija Dancetovic, both by a score of 6-1.

The Utes then went 6-2 on the day in singles competition against St. John's, registering multiple dominating singles wins. Gerstner Da Rosa and Turley each picked up wins in two sets, with Gerstner Da Rosa defeating Zofia Stanisz, 6-3, 7-5 and Turley defeating Irina Preotescu, 6-2, 6-3. Petrovic picked up a hard-fought win over Stephanie Elgegren, 6-3, 7-6, (7-4) while Cheng defeated Olaya Inclan, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and Calton recovered after dropping the first set for a win over Jaide Collins, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.

"At this early stage of the year this is exactly what we needed, a bunch of hard fought matches against a lower ranked team playing with nothing to lose, in warm outdoor conditions. It was nice we were able to win most of them," Head Coach Mat Iandolo said.

The Utes will continue competition at the FGCU Invitational on Sunday, when they will face FGCU in doubles at 8 a.m. and NSULA in singles competition immediately after.

Singles vs. St. John's
Jessica Livianu (St. John's) def. Pletcher (Utah) 6-1, 6-1
Anna Morozova (St. John's) def. B. Turley (Utah) 7-5, 6-3
Petrovic (Utah) def. Stephanie Elgegren (St. John's) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
Cheng (Utah) def. Olaya Inclan (St. John's) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Calton (Utah) def. Jaide Collins (St. John's) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
W. Turley (Utah) def. Irina Preotescu (St. John's) 6-2, 6-3
Gerstner Da Rosa (Utah) def. Zofia Stanisz (St. John's) 6-3, 7-5
Robertson (Utah) def. Delia Arranz (St. John's) 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2

Doubles vs. NWST
B. Turley/Pletcher (Utah) def. Polina Ivanova/Vladislava Litvinova (Northwestern State) 6-1
Calton/Cheng (Utah) def. Iryna Vardanian/Kateryna Avram (Northwestern State) 6-1
W. Turley/Petrovic (Utah) def. Judit Castillo/Emilija Dancetovic (Northwestern State) 6-1