Successful First Day of Invitational for Cougars

PROVO, Utah - The BYU women's tennis team opened fall play with a successful first day of the BYU Invitational as four Cougars advanced to the singles quarterfinals and two doubles dous reached the semifinals. 

Senior Megan Price, sophomore Desiree Tran, and freshmen Morgan Anderson and Meghan Sheehan-Dizon will compete Friday at 10 a.m. in the singles quarterfinals for the Cougars. Each quarterfinal match will feature a BYU player.

Price, Tran and Anderson all had byes in the first round. Price went on to defeat Weber State’s Mandee Miller 6-0, 6-2 to advance. Tran faced Utah State’s Kimberley Watts in the Round of 16, only dropping one game between the two sets. Anderson challenged teammate Andie Young and came out on top 6-0, 6-2. Sheehan-Dizon beat out Utah State’s Monica Abella 6-3, 6-4 before taking on Weber State’s Brittiny Moore. Sheehan-Dizon dropped the first set 1-6 but came back strong to take the next two 6-0, 6-2.

The quarterfinals will feature Price, Tran and Anderson competing against Utah State players McKenzie Davis, Kristina Voytsekhovich and Jaci West, respectively, with Sheehan-Dizon taking on Ashley Tanner of Weber State.

Sophomore Kelsie Craig advanced to the Round of 16 after topping Weber State’s Annika Karlsen, 6-3, 7-6 but then fell to Voytsekhovich, 6-2, 6-1. Freshman Lisa Waldron won her first match 4-0, after Utah State’s Brianna Harris withdrew due to injury. Waldron pushed Tanner to a competitive three set showdown but came up short 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.

Junior Aubrey Paul lost a close battle to Davis in the first round, 7-5, 6-3, but defeated Miller 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of Bracket B. 

The doubles semifinals Friday will feature a matchup between teammates as Anderson and Price take on Paul and Tran.

The duo of Anderson and Price moved past Utah State’s Sadi Wilkins and Abella without dropping a game. Paul and Tran edged past David and Harris of Utah State, 8-6.

Young and Washburn paired up and won a close battle with Weber State’s Nittaya Phonharath and Karlsen 9-8 to advance to the quarterfinals where they fell to Voytsekhovich and West of Utah State 8-2. 

Craig and Waldron were narrowly defeated by Romina Nedakovich and Watts, both from Utah State, 8-6. 

The collegiate athletes participate as individuals in this tournament while representing their schools.

The tournament continues Friday at 10 a.m. at the BYU Outdoor Tennis Courts south of the soccer field. Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is available after 4 p.m. Friday and all day Saturday in the “Y Lot” parking lots.

For more information and complete tournament results, click here.