PROVO, Utah -- Freshmen Toby Miclat and Mayci Jones ignited No. 71 BYU women’s tennis in a 5-2 upset win over 62nd-ranked Marshall, Thursday.

 

“I thought we played well today,” BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “We played solid on a lot of the courts and stayed focused enough to pull out the win today. Marshall’s a good team. We did a good job of playing our tennis and came out on top today.”

 

Jones and Miclat rallied the Cougars (5-6, 1-0 West Coast Conference) from the first doubles slot to clinch the first point for BYU. After facing a 6-3 deficit, the pair sparked a comeback, sending the match into tiebreakers. The freshmen duo fell behind once again but this time by the count of 5-1 in the tiebreaker, before rattling off six straight points to secure the victory, 8-7(5).

 

The Cougars posted their second win of the season over a ranked opponent as they handled Marshall (10-4, 0-0 Conference USA) to stay unbeaten at home. 

 

The day began in BYU’s favor as the No. 3 doubles team of Meghan Sheehan-Dizon and Morgan Anderson-Littlewood dominated their opponents 8-2, setting up the dramatic No. 1 doubles win.

 

Freshman Savannah Ware posted a win for the Cougars as she cruised past Karli Timko, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 5 singles. In the sixth spot, Littlewood also dominated her opponent in straight sets as she topped Rachael Morales, 6-0, 6-2, to stretch the BYU lead to 3-0.

 

The Herd strung together a rally of its own as Nicolette Tran and Sheehan-Dizon both fell in two sets at third and second singles, respectively.

 

Once again freshman Miclat came up big in a comeback for the Cougars as she beat Anna Pomyatinskaya, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, sealing the BYU victory. 

 

Jones then finished her day by overcoming an 8-4 deficit in the shortened third set to edge Dana Oppinger for the win, 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8). 

 

After the nonconference win, the Cougars resume WCC action Friday at noon against Pacific and Saturday at noon against No. 38 Saint Mary’s. Live statistics will be available on the BYU athletics website.

 

 

 

Tennis Match Results

Marshall vs Brigham Young University

Mar 20, 2014 at BYU

(Outdoor Tennis Courts)

#71 Brigham Young University 5, #62 Marshall 2

 

Singles competition 

1. JONES, Mayci (BYU) def. Dana Oppinger (MAR) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)

2. Derya Turhan (MAR) def. SHEEHAN-DIZON, Meg. (BYU) 6-1, 7-5

3. Kai Broomfield (MAR) def. TRAN, Nicolette (BYU) 6-4, 6-2

4. MICLAT, Toby (BYU) def. Anna Pomyatinskaya (MAR) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2

5. WARE, Savannah (BYU) def. Karli Timko (MAR) 6-1, 6-1

6. ANDERSON, Morgan (BYU) def. Rachael Morales (MAR) 6-0, 6-2

 

 Doubles competition 

1. JONES, Mayci/MICLAT, Toby (BYU) def. Dana Oppinger/Derya Turhan (MAR) 8-7 (7-5)

2. Karli Timko/Anna Pomyatinskaya (MAR) def. TRAN, Nicolette/TRAN, Desiree (BYU) 8-6

3. SHEEHAN-DIZON, Meg./ANDERSON, Morgan (BYU) def. Kai Broomfield/Rachael Morales (MAR) 8-2

 

Match Notes:

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,3,2,4,1)

 

 

PROVO, Utah -- No. 71 BYU women’s tennis opens a three-match homestand beginning Thursday against No. 62 Marshall at noon MDT. Friday the Cougars face Pacific at noon and then round out the weekend’s action against No. 38 Saint Mary’s Saturday at noon at the Outdoor Tennis Courts. 

 

“We’re excited to be back at home,” BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “We had a good match against ASU and hope to play more disciplined tennis this weekend.”

 

Last weekend against No. 50 Yale, the Cougars (4-6, 1-0 West Coast Conference) secured the doubles point and took four singles matches to three sets before losing 6-1. The next day against No. 28 Arizona State, the netters took the doubles point again, but faltered in singles in a narrow 4-3 defeat. 

 

Strong doubles performances came from freshmen Mayci Jones and Toby Miclat who went 2-0 at second doubles, defeating Yale and ASU 8-1 and 8-5, respectively. 

 

In the third slot, juniors Morgan Anderson-Littlewood and Meghan Sheehan-Dizon also claimed two consecutive wins, beating their opponents 8-7(4) and 8-6.

 

Thursday is the first time BYU will face Marshall (10-3, 0-0 Conference USA) who has won seven of its last eight matches. The Cougars have a 2-0 all-time record against Pacific. Friday’s match will be the first meeting between the two schools as members of the WCC.

 

BYU will also be looking for its first win against Saint Mary’s as the Gaels own the head-to-head record with an 2-0 advantage.

 

Live statistics for each match will be available on the BYU athletics website.

 

Conference play continues on the road next week against Loyola Marymount March 28 and No. 36 Pepperdine March 29.