The University of Utah women’s tennis team secured a 4-2 victory over BYU on Saturday at the George S. Eccles Tennis Center in Salt Lake City, maintaining their undefeated record at home this season. The Utes are now 6-0 on their home courts.
In doubles play, BYU took an early lead by winning matches on courts No. 3 and No. 2, earning the doubles point. The match between Utah’s Sara Akid and Emma Valletta against BYU’s Gracie Levelston and Sage Bergeson was left unfinished with the Utes leading 5-4.
Utah responded in singles competition. Kaila Barksdale tied the overall score with a straight-set win over YuYun Chen at the No. 4 position, finishing 6-1, 6-0. BYU regained the lead with a victory at No. 6 singles.
The Utes then won three consecutive singles matches to clinch the overall match. At No. 2 singles, Sara Akid defeated Kendall Kovick of BYU in two sets (6-4, 7-5), leveling the score at two points each.
Attention turned to courts No. 1, No. 3, and No. 5 as those matches went into third sets. Emmie Moore claimed her match at No. 3 by winning the final set decisively (6-3, 4-6, 6-0), putting Utah ahead for the first time in the contest.
At court No. 1, Emma Kamper won her opening set against Gracie Levelston but lost the second before securing victory in the third (6-0, 4-6, 6-1). This win clinched both her individual match and overall victory for Utah.
Following this result, Utah’s season record stands at seven wins and five losses overall and one win against two losses in Big 12 conference play.
Next up for Utah is a nonconference matchup against Utah Tech Trailblazers in St. George on March 9th before returning home to face West Virginia on March 12th and Cincinnati on March 14th.
“Fans can follow us on social media (Twitter: @UteWomensTennis | Instagram: @UtahWomensTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwomenstennis).”
Breakdown of results:
Doubles
1. Sara Akid/Emma Valletta (UU) vs. Gracie Levelston/Sage Bergeson (BYU), unfinished
2. Kendall Kovick/Sue Yan Tan (BYU) def. Emma Kamper/Anjelija Markovic (UU), 6-3
3. Sue Yan Tan/Bella Lewis (BYU) def. Kaila Barksdale/Emmie Moore (UU), 6-3
Singles
1. Emma Kamper (UU) def. Gracie Levelston (BYU), 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
2.Sara Akid (UU) def.Kendall Kovick(BYU), 6-4, 7-5
3.Emmie Moore(UU) def.Sue Yan Tan(BYU), 6–3, 4–6, 6–0
4.Kaila Barksdale(UU) def.YuYuun Chen(BYU), 6–1, 6–0
5.Emmа Valletta(UU) vs.Sage Bergeson(BYU), unfinished
6.Karina Mohamed(BYU) def.Hayley Roberts(UU), 6–4 ,
Order of finish: Doubles – courts three then two; Singles – four,six,two ,three ,one
