Freshmen Push Netters to First Conference Win

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Freshmen Callie Craig and Desiree Tran put up key wins for the BYU women’s tennis team, giving the Cougars their first win in conference play against New Mexico 6-1 Saturday.

"Today was a great day for the team," BYU head coach Lauren Jones Spencer said. "The girls came out and played their game from the start. They all played with a lot of heart."

Tran recorded the first point for BYU (6-8) with a straight-set win against Nikolina Grbac (6-4, 6-2). Craig, an Orem, Utah native, took down Anya Villannueva 6-2, 6-1, followed by Senior Elle Carney’s win against Laura Richardson (6-0, 6-1).

Elizaveta Ezhova finished the win for the Cougars with her second singles win of the weekend, going 7-5, 6-2 against Michaela Oldani. After the match was won, Aubrey Paul of Sandy, Utah pulled off a win in the tiebreaker on Court 6 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5). Megan Price fought hard on Court 1, but fell 6-4, 6-4 to Michaela Bezdickova.

The Cougars swept in doubles action, with Craig and Price pulling off the quick win against Ashley Bonner and Anya Vilannueva 8-2. Carney and Paul teamed up for a Court 3 win against Lobos Kristin Eggleston and Richardson 8-5 and Ezhova and Tran completed the sweep by defeating Bezdickova and Grbac 8-5.

Up next for the Cougars, another weekend doubleheader, this time at home. BYU takes on Air Force Thursday at noon and Colorado State Friday at noon.

BYU vs. New Mexico
BYU-6     UNM-1
SINGLES
1. Michaela Bezdickova (UNM) def. Megan Price (BYU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Callie Craig (BYU) def. Anya Villannueva (UNM) 6-2, 6-1
3. Elle Carney (BYU) def. Laura Richardson (UNM) 6-0, 6-1
4. Desiree Tran (BYU) def. Nikolina Grbac (UNM) 6-4, 6-2
5. Elizaveta Ezhova (BYU) def. Michaela Oldani (UNM) 7-5, 6-2
6. Aubrey Paul (BYU) def. Kristin Eggleston (UNM) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 6, 1
 
DOUBLES
1. Callie Craig/Megan Price (BYU) def. Ashley Bonner/Anya Villannueva (UNM) 8-2
2. Elizaveta Ezhova/Desiree Tran (BYU) def. Michaela Bezdickova/Nikolina Grbac (UNM) 8-5
3. Elle Carney/Aubrey Paul (BYU) def. Kristin Eggleston/Laura Richardson (UNM) 8-5
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2