The BYU women’s tennis team participated in the Thunderbird Invitational tournament at Arizona state on Friday, Nov. 9, but was met with some fierce competition which prevented it from advancing.
Three of the players won their first round in singles play but were then defeated in their next match.
“The girls fought hard and played well,” said BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer. “This level of competition raised our confidence.”
Junior Morgan Anderson returns serve during a match this season. (Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)
Mayci Jones won against Arizona State’s Guisse O’Sullivan 1-3, 6-3, 6-2 but then fell against No. 5 seed in the nation Anett Schutting 6-1, 6-4.
Nicolette Tran advanced after defeating Tanya Murtagh with an impressive 6-0, 6-0 but met her match against Klara Fabikov, ranked No. 23 in the nation, 2-6, 6-0, 6-0.
Meghan Sheehan-Dizon also suffered a similar fate as she defeated Arizona State’s Kassidy Jump 6-4, 6-3 and then lost to No. 12 in the nation Petra Niedermayerova, 6-4, 6-4.
Toby Miclat and Desiree Tran achieved victory in doubles play as they faced against California’s Alice Duranteau and Cecilia Estlander, 8-2.
The next day of the tournament, Miclat and Tran defeated Kansas State’s Palma Juhasz and Iva Bago 8-3.
However team Mayci Jones and Sheehan-Dizon was narrowly defeated by Stephanie Vlad and Joanna Smith of Arizona State 8-7.
The Cougars didn’t let their early defeat in the tournament stop their zeal to win in the consolation bracket.
Milcat defeated Cecilia Estlander of California 6-2, 3-1 in the first round but was then defeated by Duranteu 6-2, 3-1.
Morgan Anderson also won a match against Smith of Arizona State 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
The Cougars are now done with the fall portion of their regular season and are gearing up for the opening of their regular season, which starts off against Tulsa on Jan. 18.