PROVO, Utah--In its first win over a ranked opponent this season, BYU women’s tennis upset No. 50 Denver in dominating fashion, 6-1, at the Indoor Tennis Courts Saturday.

 

“It was a great match for us,” BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “Being the underdogs in the match, it was really important for us to take them in doubles and start the momentum going our way. There were some tight matches -- but they stayed confident, played their game, and this is the win we’ve been looking for.”

 

The Cougars (2-3) won their second consecutive match with the victory over the Pioneers (2-4). It was their third match against a ranked opponent this season and their first win against a top-100 team since April 8, 2013, when they beat No. 70 Washington State, 4-3.

 

With the match score 3-0 in favor of BYU, senior Desiree Tran clinched the home victory with a comeback win against Kathryn Hughes, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.

 

“The girls fought hard, it was a tough match -- there were some tight ones -- but they stayed confident, played their game and this is the win we’ve been looking for.”

 

Freshman Mayci Jones took care of Caroline Schnell in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, in first singles. Sophomore Nicolette Tran followed with a victory of her own, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, against Sonja Radosevic.

 

Junior Meghan Sheehan-Dizon also overpowered her opponent, winning 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 against Maureen Slattery. Freshman Savannah Ware dominated at No. 6 singles by a score of 6-1, 6-0 while fresman Toby Miclat suffered the only setback of the day, falling to Evy Van Genechten, 6-2, 6-4.

 

Every doubles team came away with a win. Junior Morgan Anderson-Littlewood and sophomore Mackenna Maddox finished first, topping their opponents 8-3. Nicolette Tran and Jones earned a convincing victory as well by beating Schnell and Michell Garpenlov, 8-4.

 

Miclat and Sheehan-Dizon squeezed by Sonja Radosevic and Kathryn Hughes, 8-7 (8-6).

 

“I think this gives us confidence and momentum for Utah,” Jones-Spencer said. “Utah is going to be tough, but we’re the underdogs again, so we’re just going to go in there and play our game and take care of business.”

 

BYU is on the road against in-state rival No. 55 Utah in the Deseret First Duel match, Wednesday at 5 p.m. MST at Salt Lake City.

 

Tennis Match Results

Univ. of Denver-W vs Brigham Young University

Feb 15, 2014 at

Brigham Young University 6, #50 Univ. of Denver-W 1

 

Singles competition

1. JONES, Mayci (BYU) def. Caroline Schnell (DU-W) 6-0, 6-3

2. SHEEHAN-DIZON, Meg. (BYU) def. Maureen Slattery (DU-W) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2

3. TRAN, Nicolette (BYU) def. Sonja Radosevic (DU-W) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5

4. TRAN, Desiree (BYU) def. Kathryn Hughes (DU-W) 1-6, 6-2, 7-5

5. Evy Van Genechten (DU-W) def. MICLAT, Toby (BYU) 6-2, 6-4

6. WARE, Savannah (BYU) def. Charlotte Derbyshire (DU-W) 6-1, 6-0

 

 

Doubles competition

1. TRAN, Nicolette/JONES, Mayci (BYU) def. Caroline Schnell/Michelle Garpenlov (DU-W) 8-4

2. MICLAT, Toby/SHEEHAN-DIZON, Meg. (BYU) def. Sonja Radosevic/Kathryn Hughes (DU-W) 8-7 (8-6)

3. ANDERSON-LITTLEWOOD, Morgan/MADDOX, Mackenna (BYU) def. Maureen Slattery/Evy Van Genechten (DU-W) 8-3

 

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

PROVO, Utah--On the heels of its first win of the season, BYU women’s tennis returns to Provo for its home opener against No. 50 Denver, Saturday at 10 a.m. MST.

 

The Cougars (1-3) have played all four of their matches on the road with two of their losses coming against top 45 ranked teams. They have a 6-3 all-time record against the Pioneers (2-2).

 

Last weekend BYU topped Boise State, 4-3, with freshmen Toby Miclat and Savannah Ware pulling through in the clutch.

 

Miclat tied the match at 3-3 with her comeback win at No. 5 singles, 6-7 (3-7),6-2, 10-7.  Ware followed at No. 6 singles with the match-clinching victory, 6-0, 2-6, 10-7.

 

Live scoring for the match against Denver will be available on the BYU athletics website.

 

The next match for the Cougars pits them against in-state rival Utah for the Deseret First Duel match, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. MST at the Eccles Tennis Center in Salt Lake City.