BYU comeback attempt falls just short at Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. – BYU women’s tennis (6-4) came just short of completing an upset, losing 4-3 to Oregon (5-1) on Friday at the Student Tennis Center.

Lillian Mould and Janice Tjen got things going for the Ducks, defeating Leah Heimuli and Emilee Astle, 6-1, to begin doubles play. In the No. 3 spot, Kara Lin and Elizabeth Tullis defeated Allison Mulville and Myah Petchey, 5-4, by retirement. It was the first win as a doubles partnership for Lin and Tullis. Oregon clinched the doubles point when Rifanty Kahfiani and Uxia Martinez Moral defeated Anastasia Abramyan and Helen Jiao, 6-3.

Lin was defeated by Kahfiani, 6-0, 6-3, to begin the singles matches. Xenia de Luna put the Cougars on the scoreboard after defeating Mulville, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. The Cougars faced a 3-1 deficit following a loss by Astle. Astle was defeated by Martinez Moral, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. Martinez Moral is now 6-0 on the season in singles play.

 Heimuli started the comeback for the Cougars as she defeated Mould, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Jiao kept things rolling, taking down Mulville, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, to lock the score at three. Abramyan then looked to close out the match for the Cougars. In the third set, Abramyan pulled ahead 5-4 with a chance to win it for BYU. Tjen showed why she is a combined 13-0 this season, as she scored two unanswered to pull ahead 6-5. After Abramyan forced a tie-breaker, Tjen was just able to beat out Abramyan, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

BYU will wrap up its trip to Oregon tomorrow, Feb. 27, with a match against Seattle. The match begins at 11:30 a.m. PST. The Redhawks (0-3) are searching for their first win of the season.

MATCH RESULTS

BYU 3, Oregon 4

Doubles Matches

1. Rifanty Kahfiani/Uxia Martinez Moral (UO) def. Anastasia Abramyan/Helen Jiao (BYU), 6-3

2. Lillian Mould/Janice Tjen (UO) def. Leah Heimuli/Emilee Astle (BYU), 6-1

3. Kara Lin/Elizabeth Tullis (BYU) def. Allison Mulville/Myah Petchey (UO), 5-4

Order of finish: (2, 3, 1)

Singles Matches

1. Janice Tjen (UO) def. Anastasia Abramyan (BYU), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3)

2. Leah Heimuli (BYU) def. Lillian Mould (UO), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

3. Rifanty Kahfiani (UO) def. Kara Lin (BYU), 6-0, 6-3

4. Uxia Martinez Moral (UO) def. Emilee Astle (BYU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-2

5. Helen Jiao (BYU) def. Allison Mulville (UO), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1

6. Xenia de Luna (BYU) def. Madisen Olsen (UO), 6-4, 6-1

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