BYU falls to No. 8 Virginia at ITA Kickoff

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.– BYU women's tennis dropped its first match of the season 7-0 against No. 8 Virginia in the first match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend played at the Boar's Head Sports Club in Charlottesville. 

"We came out on our heels in the doubles and Virginia capitalized on us ," BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. "In singles we did a great job competing and fighting, we just couldn't convert key deuce points. We're looking forward to improving and starting out strong in doubles tomorrow against Maryland."

The Cavaliers (2-0) held an early advantage over the Cougars (0-1) after winning the doubles point. BYU's Toby Miclat and Taylah Beckman teamed up at No. 1 doubles but fell 6-0. Nicolette Poulsen and Savannah Ware dropped their matchup at second doubles 6-0. 

Virginia continued the momentum in singles and won all six matches in straight sets. Junior Mayci Jones played at the No.1 spot for the Cougars but fell to Danielle Collins 6-3, 6-1, while teammate Miclat, playing third singles, dropped a closely contested first set 7-5 before falling 6-0 in the second set.

Competing in their first intercollegiate dual matches at BYU, freshman Beckman dropped her match 6-2, 6-1, playing sixth singles, while junior college transfer Natella Nabieva lost 6-4, 7-5, in a closely contested battle at the No. 5 spot.

"Natella did a great job fighting until the last point," Jones-Spencer said. "She got behind early in the match but fought back and competed well." 

Ware fell 6-2, 6-2, playing at second singles, while Poulsen fell 6-4, 6-1, at the No. 4 spot.

The Cougars continue play at the ITA Kickoff Weekend Saturday in the consolation match against No. 66 Maryland (0-1) at 10:30 a.m. EST at the Boar's Head Sports Club. Live stats will be available through the schedule page.

#8 Virginia 7, BYU 0

Singles
1. No. 4 Danielle Collins (UVA) def. Mayci Jones (BYU), 6-3, 6-1

2. No. 8 Julia Elbaba (UVA) def. Savannah Ware (BYU), 6-2, 6-2

3. No. 32 Skylar Morton (UVA) def. Toby Miclat (BYU), 7-5, 6-0

4. No. 30 Stephanie Nauta (UVA) def. Nicolette Poulsen (BYU), 6-4, 6-1

5. Victoria Olivarez (UVA), Natella Nabieva (BYU), 6-4,

6. Meghan Kelley (UVA)def. Taylah Beckman (BYU), 6-2, 6-1

Doubles

1. No. 19 Collins/Kelley (UVA) def. Miclat/Beckman (BYU), 6-0

2. Elbaba/Morton (UVA) def. Poulsen/Ware (BYU), 6-0

3. Nauta/Olivarez (UVA) susp. Jones/Nabieva (BYU), 5-1

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