MALIBU, Calif. -- No. 51 BYU women’s tennis was handed its first conference loss at the hands of No. 40 Pepperdine, 5-2, in a showdown between the top two West Coast Conference teams Saturday.

The Cougars (8-7, 4-1 WCC) had won four straight matches prior to the meeting with the Waves (10-4, 4-0 WCC).

“We had our opportunities in doubles but weren’t able to capitalize,” BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “We didn’t compete as well as we needed to today. We are going to learn from this match and keep moving forward.”

BYU built some early momentum with a win at third doubles. Juniors Meghan Sheehan-Dizon and Morgan Anderson-Littlewood closed out the victory over Matea Cutura and Yuki Chang, 8-5.

Pepperdine evened the match with a win at No. 1 doubles as freshmen Mayci Jones and Toby Miclat fell, 8-5. The Waves then secured the point when Ale Granillo and Michaela Capannolo proved to be too much for Nicolette Tran and Savannah Ware as they fell 8-6.

BYU attempted to right the ship, but Pepperdine clinched the match as it took the next four singles matches.

Jones, a freshman, fell to No. 25 Lorraine Guillermo in straight sets and Tran fell to No. 96 Granillo, 6-2, 6-4.

The Cougars’ Sheehan-Dizon and Ware picked up singles wins at the No. 2 and No. 5 spots, respectively. The Waves retired both the matches.

BYU continues WCC play at home against Santa Clara Friday at noon MDT.

 
#40 Pepperdine 5, #51 BYU 2
 
Singles competition
1. #25 Lorraine Guillermo (PEP) def. Mayci Jones (BYU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Meghan Sheehan-Dizon (BYU) def. Matea Cutura (PEP) 6-7, 3-2, retired
3. #96 Ale Granillo (PEP) def. Nicolette Tran (BYU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Michaela Capannolo (PEP) def. Toby Miclat (BYU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Savannah Ware (BYU) def. Yuki Chiang (PEP) 6-4, 1-6, 2-1, retired
6. A.Runglerdkriangkrai (PEP) def. Morgan Anderson-Littlewood (BYU) 6-2, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Lorraine Guillermo/A.Runglerdkriangkrai (PEP) def. Mayci Jones/Toby Miclat (BYU) 8-5
2. Ale Granillo/Michaela Capannolo (PEP) def. Nicolette Tran/Savannah Ware (BYU) 8-6
3. Meghan Sheehan-Dizon/Morgan Anderson-Littlewood (BYU) def. Matea Cutura/Yuki Chiang (PEP) 8-5
 
Match Notes:
BYU 8-7, 4-1 WCC; National ranking #51
Pepperdine 10-4, 4-0 WCC; National ranking #40
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,3,1)

PROVO, Utah -- After an impressive three-straight victories last weekend, No. 51 BYU will hit the road for matches against Loyola Marymount Friday at 1:30 p.m. PDT and No. 40 Pepperdine Saturday at 11 a.m.

“We’re finally starting to play our best tennis right now toward the end of season, which is ultimately what our goal was this season--to play our best tennis in conference,” BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “Coming off that last win is huge. I think it will give us some momentum going into this weekend.”

Last weekend the Cougars improved to 7-6 overall and 3-0 in West Coast Conference play, including upset wins over No. 62 Marshall and No. 38 Saint Mary’s. The last time BYU defeated a team in the top 40 was in 2007 during Coach Jones-Spencer’s senior season of collegiate tennis.

The Lions (6-9, 0-2 WCC) have conference losses against San Francisco and Santa Clara. BYU will be looking to improve its 1-2 all-time mark against LMU.

Against Pepperdine (8-4, 2-0 WCC), it will be a battle of the top two conference teams. The Cougars are 6-6 all-time against the Waves.

BYU returns home for a showdown with Santa Clara April 4 at noon MDT.