Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Houston on February 26, 2026 at Noon (MT)
Noon (MT)
Women's Tennis
at Houston
The University of Utah Athletics
Thursday, February 26
Houston, TX
Noon (MT)
University of Utah
at
Houston
No. 35 Utah Set to Begin Big 12 Play This Week
2/24/2026 4:05 PM | Women's Tennis
SALT LAKE CITY— The University of Utah women's tennis team is set to begin Big 12 conference play this week with two ranked matchups in the No. 47 Houston Cougars (Feb. 26) and the No. 42 UCF Knights (Feb. 28). The Utes are currently 6-3 on the season.
MATCH INFORMATION
Utah (6-3, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Houston (9-0, 0-0 Big 12)
DATE | TIME:Â Friday, February 26 | Noon MT
LOCATION:Â Houston, Texas
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES:@UteWomensTennis
Â
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
The No. 47 Houston Cougars are starting conference play strong going 9-0 against nonconference opponents. The Cougars have only dropped one point this season in a singles matchup versus Stephen F. Austin State University.
In doubles action, Cougars Elizaveta Morozova and Petja Drame are on a 7-0 in dual play at the No. 3 spot. Cougars' Chems Doha Zeghlouili and Sophie Schouten follow close behind them with a 6-1 record.
In singles play, two players for the Cougars have a 7-0 record this season in Valeriia Krokhotina and Schouten. Zeghlouli follows close behind them with a 6-1 record after dropping the last matchup at the No. 2 spot.
The Utes hold a 3-2 record versus the Cougars all-time.
MATCH INFORMATION
Utah (6-3, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Central Florida (7-1, 0-0 Big 12)
DATE | TIME:Â Saturday, February 28 | 10 a.m. MT
LOCATION:Â Orlando, Fla.
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES:@UteWomensTennis
 SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
The No. 42 UCF Knights ended its nonconference slate with a 6-1 win over the Stetson Hatters. The Knights are currently 6-1 on the season and 6-0 versus Florida competition. The Knights secured the doubles point quickly with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, leaving the No. 1 court unfinished.
In singles action, all Knights accept one won their singles matches. Only dropping the match on the No. 5 court.
The Utes are 0-2 against the Knights all-time.
THE UTES
The Utah women's tennis program returns seniors Dylan Lolofie, Kaila Barksdale and Emma Valletta. The Utes also welcome juniors Sara Akid and Emma Kamper this season. Utah has one sophomore returning to the squad in Hayley Roberts. The Utes welcome four newcomers with two transfers in Emmie Moore and Kamea Medora and two new true freshmen in Andjelija Markovic and Hailey Kerker.
LAST TIME OUT
The University of Utah women's tennis team are coming off a two-loss trip from Seattle, Wash. The No. 33 Utah Utes faced the No. 17 Washington Huskies losing 4-2. The Huskies captured the doubles point and the first singles victory on No. 6.
Utah's Sara Akid and Kaila Barksdale picked up the singles wins against the Huskies. Akid won her match against No. 124 Jermine Sherif in a 6-1, 6-3 fashion at the No. 4 spot. Barksdale won her match against Alexia Jacobs after falling in the first set, 1-6, but came back 6-3, 6-2 on court No. 3. The Huskies would capture a win at the No. 5 spot to clinch the overall victory.
The next day, the Utes faced No. 30 San Diego Toreros. In doubles action against the Toreros, the Utes clinched the doubles point after winning on courts No. 1 and No. 3.
In singles play, Akid finished her weekend with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over San Diego's Ines Leon.
Utah's No. 81 Emma Kamper defeated Charlotte Keitel 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 1 spot to finish off the singles play for the Utes.
HEAD COACH RUTH ANN ALLEN
The Utah women's tennis team welcomed Ruth Ann Allen as head coach this past season. A Utah native and a Utah All-American and Hall of Famer, Allen returns to lead the program after a successful tenure as head coach at Weber State. She guided the Wildcats to a Big Sky Championship in 2023 and was twice named Big Sky Coach of the Year (2022, 2023).
Before Weber State, Allen spent 20 seasons as an assistant coach at Utah, where she helped the Utes secure multiple NCAA Tournament bids, two Mountain West Conference titles, and numerous top-five regional rankings. Allen, an All-American during her playing career at Utah, was inducted into the Utah Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2023.
NEXT UP
The Utes return to Salt Lake City to face in-state rival the Brigham Young Cougars, Saturday Mar. 7 before a nonconference matchup against the Utah Tech Trailblazers (Mar. 9) in Saint George, Utah.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow us on social media (Twitter: @UteWomensTennis | Instagram: @UtahWomensTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwomenstennis).
Â
MATCH INFORMATION
Utah (6-3, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Houston (9-0, 0-0 Big 12)
DATE | TIME:Â Friday, February 26 | Noon MT
LOCATION:Â Houston, Texas
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES:@UteWomensTennis
Â
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
The No. 47 Houston Cougars are starting conference play strong going 9-0 against nonconference opponents. The Cougars have only dropped one point this season in a singles matchup versus Stephen F. Austin State University.
In doubles action, Cougars Elizaveta Morozova and Petja Drame are on a 7-0 in dual play at the No. 3 spot. Cougars' Chems Doha Zeghlouili and Sophie Schouten follow close behind them with a 6-1 record.
In singles play, two players for the Cougars have a 7-0 record this season in Valeriia Krokhotina and Schouten. Zeghlouli follows close behind them with a 6-1 record after dropping the last matchup at the No. 2 spot.
The Utes hold a 3-2 record versus the Cougars all-time.
MATCH INFORMATION
Utah (6-3, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Central Florida (7-1, 0-0 Big 12)
DATE | TIME:Â Saturday, February 28 | 10 a.m. MT
LOCATION:Â Orlando, Fla.
LIVE STATS: Click Here
TWITTER UPDATES:@UteWomensTennis
 SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
The No. 42 UCF Knights ended its nonconference slate with a 6-1 win over the Stetson Hatters. The Knights are currently 6-1 on the season and 6-0 versus Florida competition. The Knights secured the doubles point quickly with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, leaving the No. 1 court unfinished.
In singles action, all Knights accept one won their singles matches. Only dropping the match on the No. 5 court.
The Utes are 0-2 against the Knights all-time.
THE UTES
The Utah women's tennis program returns seniors Dylan Lolofie, Kaila Barksdale and Emma Valletta. The Utes also welcome juniors Sara Akid and Emma Kamper this season. Utah has one sophomore returning to the squad in Hayley Roberts. The Utes welcome four newcomers with two transfers in Emmie Moore and Kamea Medora and two new true freshmen in Andjelija Markovic and Hailey Kerker.
LAST TIME OUT
The University of Utah women's tennis team are coming off a two-loss trip from Seattle, Wash. The No. 33 Utah Utes faced the No. 17 Washington Huskies losing 4-2. The Huskies captured the doubles point and the first singles victory on No. 6.
Utah's Sara Akid and Kaila Barksdale picked up the singles wins against the Huskies. Akid won her match against No. 124 Jermine Sherif in a 6-1, 6-3 fashion at the No. 4 spot. Barksdale won her match against Alexia Jacobs after falling in the first set, 1-6, but came back 6-3, 6-2 on court No. 3. The Huskies would capture a win at the No. 5 spot to clinch the overall victory.
The next day, the Utes faced No. 30 San Diego Toreros. In doubles action against the Toreros, the Utes clinched the doubles point after winning on courts No. 1 and No. 3.
In singles play, Akid finished her weekend with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over San Diego's Ines Leon.
Utah's No. 81 Emma Kamper defeated Charlotte Keitel 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 1 spot to finish off the singles play for the Utes.
HEAD COACH RUTH ANN ALLEN
The Utah women's tennis team welcomed Ruth Ann Allen as head coach this past season. A Utah native and a Utah All-American and Hall of Famer, Allen returns to lead the program after a successful tenure as head coach at Weber State. She guided the Wildcats to a Big Sky Championship in 2023 and was twice named Big Sky Coach of the Year (2022, 2023).
Before Weber State, Allen spent 20 seasons as an assistant coach at Utah, where she helped the Utes secure multiple NCAA Tournament bids, two Mountain West Conference titles, and numerous top-five regional rankings. Allen, an All-American during her playing career at Utah, was inducted into the Utah Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2023.
NEXT UP
The Utes return to Salt Lake City to face in-state rival the Brigham Young Cougars, Saturday Mar. 7 before a nonconference matchup against the Utah Tech Trailblazers (Mar. 9) in Saint George, Utah.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow us on social media (Twitter: @UteWomensTennis | Instagram: @UtahWomensTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwomenstennis).
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Utah Women's Tennis 25-26 Pronunciations
Thursday, September 11
Role models. Trailblazers. Legends. Celebrating our #AAPI student-athletes this month and always.
Monday, May 20
Recap: Utah women's tennis defends home court with victory over Oregon
Tuesday, May 14
A Chat with Anastasia and Mat
Wednesday, June 29