IRVINE, Calif. – Despite close matches, the BYU women’s tennis team fell to No. 56 University of California, Irvine, 6-1, on the road Saturday.   

“We were right in this match,” BYU coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “We barely lost the doubles point with a tiebreaker on Court 1. Four of our girls were up at one point in singles. We were in a good position but we beat ourselves. We need to get a little more match tough. It was our opening weekend and we’re still learning a lot. The team is playing hard but we still have room to improve.”

The Cougars (0-2) held their ground in doubles competition against the ‘Eaters (2-2). Freshman Lisa Waldron and junior Aubrey Paul battled Stephanie Hammel and Marivick Mamiit to secure the first doubles win in favor of BYU, topping the competition 8-6.

UCI brought the doubles score to 1-1 after narrowly etching out sophomore Desiree Tran and freshman Morgan Anderson on Court 2, 9-7.

Knowing the No. 1 doubles position would decide the doubles point, senior Megan Price and freshman Meghan Sheehan-Dizon fought hard against Courtney Byron and Hannah Holladay, bringing the match to a tie 8-8 score. Despite tough play, Price and Sheehan-Dizon were unable to close the match out, falling, 9-8 (7-1).

Singles competition was just as fierce with three matches taken to three sets.

The ‘Eaters found themselves up 3-0 on the Cougars after Price and Anderson fell on Court 2 and 3, respectively.

Sheehan-Dizon closed the gap with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Mamiit on Court 4, giving BYU its first point of the day.

Paul pushed Kat Facey to a third set but went on to fall 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Facey’s victory at the No. 5 position secured the match win for UCI.

Waldron and Tran, despite pushing their matches to three sets, fell on Court 6 and 1, respectively.

The Cougars return home for their first home match of the season Friday against Denver. 

No. 56 UCI: 6

BYU: 1

Singles competition:

1. Courtney Byron (UCI) vs. Desiree Tran (BYU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. Kristina Smith (UCI) def. Megan Price (BYU), 6-2, 6-4
3. Franziska Goettsching (UCI) def. Morgan Anderson (BYU), 6-2, 6-2
4. Meghan Sheehan-Dizon (BYU) def. Marivick Mamiit (UCI), 6-4, 6-4
5. Kat Facey (UCI) def. Aubrey Paul (BYU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Hannah Holladay (UCI) def. Lisa Waldron (BYU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
 

Doubles competition:

1. C. Byron/H. Holladay (UCI) def. M. Price/M. Sheehan-Dizon (BYU), 9-8 (7-1)
2. F. Goettsching/K. Smith (UCI) def. D. Tran/M. Anderson (BYU), 9-7
3. L. Wadron/A. Paul (BYU) def. S. Hammel/M. Mamiitt (UCI), 8-6

Match Notes:

UCI (2-2); National ranking #56
BYU (0-2)
Order of finish:
Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (3, 2, 4, 5, 6, 1)

PROVO, Utah – The BYU women’s tennis team heads to California to kick off the 2012 season against No. 55 UC Irvine and No. 38 Long Beach State Friday and Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to getting started,” BYU coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “We’re starting a little late this year so it feels like a long time to prep. The team is excited and ready to play.”

The Cougars (0-0) will take on the No. 55 UC Irvine Anteaters (1-2) Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. PST at the Rhodes Tennis Center in Irvine, Calif. BYU then heads to Long Beach, Calif. to compete against the No. 38 Long Beach State 49ers (1-0) Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. PST at the Tennis Stadium.

“It will be a tough and competitive start to the season facing two ranked teams,” Jones-Spencer said. “It’ll be good to play in the low altitude and face some California schools to get us ready for the West Coast Conference.”

The Anteaters are coming off a 7-0 loss to No. 4 UCLA while the 49ers are looking to continue success after a 6-1 win over Loyola Marymount in their season opener.

BYU is 2-2 all-time against UC Irvine while the match against Long Beach State will be a first for the Cougars. The last matchup between BYU and UC Irvine came last year when the Cougars fell to the Anteaters, 2-5, in Irvine.

Long Beach State is home to two nationally-ranked players in No. 117 Laura Bernard and No. 122 Rachel Manasse.

BYU will look to senior Megan Price and junior Aubrey Paul for team leadership this season. Paul led the Cougars in fall play with a 12-5 record.

Cougar fans can get a look at the team Feb. 10 when BYU hosts Denver at the BYU Indoor Tennis Courts.