Hekking and Tattini Take Doubles Title at UNLV Invitational

Sunday, November 10

Las Vegas, NV

All Day

University of Utah

UNLV Invite

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

Hekking and Tattini Take Doubles Title at UNLV Invitational

11/10/2019 5:27 PM | Women's Tennis

Utah women's tennis concludes fall play on Sunday.

LAS VEGAS – Highlighted by two Ute teams competing in the doubles final, the University of Utah women's tennis team wrapped up the UNLV Invitational on Sunday, as well as tournament play for the fall season.

"Overall, a decent fall season of growth for us and a lot of positives," said head coach Ric Mortera. "We are starting to show some gains in doubles especially. However, we still have some inconsistencies with our singles play that we will need to clean up in order to have a good spring season. We are looking forward to using the rest of the fall to work on those and continuing to progress."

Beginning the final day of fall play with doubles action, the No. 55-ranked duo of Madison Tattini and Whitney Hekking were matched up against teammates Katya Hersh and Anya Lamoreaux in the championship round of the flight one doubles bracket. Tattini and Hekking topped their fellow Utes, with a score of 8-2, to take the title of the flight one doubles bracket. Both Ute teams had stellar weekends in doubles play as Tattini/Hekking went undefeated and Hersh/Lamoreaux downed the ITA's No. 17-ranked duo in their first match.

Rich and McKay also competed for the Utes in the flight two doubles consolation bracket on Sunday, facing Lillian Mould and Myah Petchy from Oregon and dropping the match 5-8 to wrap up doubles at the UNLV Invite.

In the main draw of the flight three singles bracket, Hersh was matched up against Colorado's Sophia Derivan in the championship match. Hersh narrowly dropped the first set 6-7, and then fell in the second set 4-6 to end the Ute freshman's run in Las Vegas.

Hekking completed her undefeated day by posting a 6-4, 6-3 win over Antonia Balzert from Colorado. Then, Rich and McKay carried momentum from singles play yesterday to today and posted a win in the flight four singles consolation bracket. Rich was matched up against Ellie Puzak from Colorado, as she was able to come out on top with a 6-3, 6-1 win. McKay was also dominant, defeating Oregon's Taryn Fujimori 6-2, 6-2, to finish out her run at the UNLV Invite.

Tattini dropped her match in the flight one consolation bracket, falling against Georgia Tech's Vicotia Flores 0-6, 0-6. Emily Dush also saw action for the Utes, as she competed against Nami Otsuka from Georgia Tech in flight two consolation bracket. Dush fell 2-6, 2-6. Rounding out the Utes, Lamoreaux faced off against Rose Garcia Gross from Georgia Tech in the flight three consolation bracket. Lamoreaux came up just short in the first set 6-7, before falling in the second set 3-6.

Following a couple months of training, the Utes will look ahead to their 2020 season opener in January. Utah will kick off the spring season with a match at home against Southern Utah University. The match against the Thunderbirds will be held at the George S. Eccles Tennis Center on Saturday, Jan. 11.

UNLV Invitational – Day 3 Results
Flight One Singles – Consolation
Vicotia Flores (GT) def. Madison Tattini (UU), 6-0, 6-0

Flight Two Singles – Consolation
Whitney Hekking (UU) def. Antonia Balzert (CU), 6-4, 6-3
Nami Otsuka (GT) def. Emily Dush (UU), 6-2, 6-2

Flight Three Singles – Main Draw Final
Sophia Derivan (CU) def. Katya Hersh (UU), 7-6, 6-4

Flight Three Singles – Consolation
Rose Garcia Gross (GT) def. Anya Lamoreaux (UU), 7-6, 6-3

Flight Four Singles – Consolation
Jasmine Rich (UU) def. Ellie Puzak (CU), 6-3, 6-1
Madison McKay (UU) def. Taryn Fujimori (UO), 6-2, 6-2

Flight One Doubles – Main Draw
Madison Tattini/Whitney Hekking (UU) def. Katya Hersh/Anya Lamoreaux (UU), 8-2

Flight Two Doubles – Consolation
Lillian Mould/Myah Petchy (UO) def. Jasmine Rich/Madison McKay (UU), 8-5