Seven Cougars compete in ITA Mountain Region Championships

PROVO -- Ready to face opponents from 18 schools, the BYU women’s tennis team gears up to make a run in the ITA Mountain Region Championships in Las Vegas.

Play starts at 8:30 a.m. Wenesday in UNLV’s Fertitta Tennis Complex as five Cougars play in the first round of singles action. Doubles play will begin Thursday, with three BYU pairs competing.

BYU had a strong showing in the 2009 region championships, with one player advancing to the singles semifinals and one team reaching the doubles finals.

No. 5 seed Callie Craig of Orem, Utah, and No. 14 seed Megan Price both have byes in the Round of 128. Price and Craig also have a bye in the Round of 64 in doubles action.

In the UCSB Classic, the pair took the doubles title and Price advanced to the quarterfinals. Before that, Craig and Price took the doubles title in the BYU Invitational and Craig grabbed victory in the singles final.

Price reached the doubles final at regionals in 2009 with partner McCall Jones. The pair didn’t compete in the final due to the match taking place on Sunday.

In the first round of singles, Elle Carney goes up against Kristi Russell of Weber State, Kelsie Craig of Orem, Utah, faces Carla Manzi of Colorado and Elizaveta Ezhova faces Annika Karlsen of Weber State. Aubrey Paul of Sandy, Utah, battles Wena Tsan of Montana State and Andie Young of Salt Lake City will play Ella Bourchier of UNLV.

Ezhova and Kelsie Craig will pair up for doubles, as well as Carney and Paul. Ezhova and Kelsie Craig have a bye and Carney and Paul play Kristina Schleich and Abbie Probert of Colorado in the first round.

The tournament runs Oct. 13 to Oct. 17. Singles and doubles champions will advance to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships held in November.

For more information on the tournament, click here.