Cougars have strong, undefeated showing at Boise State Invitational

BOISE, Idaho -- BYU women’s tennis competed in its second invitational of the season last weekend as the Cougars traveled to Boise State and went undefeated through two rounds of play in the Barb Chandler Classic.

The format for the event included a mini dual/pairs competition in which teams would compete with the same doubles pairs throughout the competition, with each pair/doubles also competing against the opposing pair/doubles in individual singles matches as well. The team that won the best of those three matches (one doubles match and two singles matches) advanced to the next round.

BYU competed with senior Leah Heimuli and freshman Bobo Huang as the Cougars' first pair and junior Emilee Astle and sophomore Kara Lin as the second pair.

Day 1

Astle and Lin competed in the Orange Draw, defeating their first opponents Felicia Jayapasutra of Montana State and Nika Beukers of Portland State 6-0 in the doubles portion of the round. Astle went on to defeat Jayapastura 6-2 and 6-0 in her singles portion. Lin defeated Beukers 6-1 and 6-2 in her singles match, leading the Cougars to a 3-0 victory in their first round of the invitational.

Heimuli and Huang competed in the Blue Draw and defeated Melissa Huchet and Ines Oliveira of the University of Idaho 6-2 in the first round. Heimuli went on to take her singles match with Huchet 6-1, 6-1, putting the Cougars in the winner's bracket ahead of the final singles match. Huang went to three sets before falling to Oliveira 6-1, 6-7, 1-6. Heimuli and Huang defeated Huchet and Oliveira 2-1.

Day 2

Astle and Lin continued on to the Orange Main Draw Semifinals, competing against Jacinta Milenkoski and Madison Egan of Portland State, wasting no time winning the doubles match 6-1. Astle defeated Milenkoski 6-3, 6-2 and Lin followed suit with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Egan, going 3-0 for the second time in the tournament and qualifying for the finals.

Heimuli and Huang moved onto the semifinals of the Blue Main Draw competing against Holly Stewart and Ana Conde Vendrell of Boise State. The Cougars won 6-4 in a hard-fought victory in their doubles match. Heimuli went on to win her singles match 6-4, 6-2 against Stewart, securing their spot in the finals. Huang added another victory for the Cougars with a comeback win over Conde Vendrell 0-6, 6-2, 6-2. Heimuli and Huang earned their first sweep of the Invitational.

The Cougars did not compete in the final round due to BYU's Sunday-play policy.

BYU will prepare next to compete in the Rice Invitational that will take place Oct. 29-30.