BYU outlasted by Saint Mary’s in 4-3 defeat

MORAGA, Calif. – BYU women’s tennis (11-6, 1-1 WCC) saw a four-match win streak snap in a road loss to Saint Mary’s on Friday at the Korth Tennis Complex. The Cougars lost the doubles point in a tiebreaker before battling into the third set in four different singles matches. 

The Cougars started the day off strong with Emilee Astle and Kara Lin picking up a win in the No. 3 spot over Jordan Harris and Liesl Pieters, 6-3. The Gaels bounced back and won the next two matches to clinch the doubles point. Anastasia Abramyan and Helen Jiao were bested by Mariia Kozyreva and Danielle McIntyre, 7-5. Jocelyn Massey and Aubane Ville followed, outlasting Leah Heimuli and Madeline Wanlass, 7-6 (3), in a tiebreaker.  

Saint Mary’s kept things rolling into singles play, winning the first three matches to secure the victory. The Gaels’ McIntyre defeated Lin, 6-3, 6-4. Abramyan suffered her first defeat in six contests in a 6-0, 6-3 loss to Kozyreva. Gabriela Tevez sealed the victory for Saint Mary’s, coming up with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 win over Jiao in the No. 3 match.

The Cougars turned it on through the back half of singles play to shrink the margin of defeat to just one point.

Wanlass kept her perfect record in singles play intact, retiring Ville, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 0-2. Emilee Astle earned a team-high 12th victory of the season, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5), over Massey. Heimuli ended the day with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 win against Harris at No. 2 doubles.

BYU will look to bounce back tomorrow, March 27, when it travels to Pacific. The match is slated to begin at 12 p.m. PDT at the Eve Zimmerman Tennis Center.

MATCH RESULTS

BYU 3, Saint Mary’s 4

Doubles Competition

1. Mariia Kozyreva/Danielle McIntyre (SMC) def. Anastasia Abramyan/Helen Jiao (BYU), 7-5

2. Jocelyn Massey/Aubane Ville (SMC) def. Leah Heimuli/Madeline Wanlass (BYU), 7-6 (3)

3. Emilee Astle/Kara Lin (BYU) def. Jordan Harris/Liesl Pieters (SMC), 6-3

Order of finish: (3, 1, 2)

Singles Competition

1. Mariia Kozyreva (SMC) def. Anastasia Abramyan (BYU), 6-0, 6-3

2. Leah Heimuli (BYU) def. Jordan Harris (SMC), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5

3. Danielle McIntyre (SMC) def. Kara Lin (BYU), 6-3, 6-4

4. Gabriela Tevez (SMC) def. Helen Jiao (BYU), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2

5. Emilee Astle (BYU) def. Jocelyn Massey (SMC), 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5)

6. Madeline Wanlass (BYU) def. Aubane Ville (SMC), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 0-2, retired

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