COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite strong singles performances by juniors Toby Miclat and Natella Nabieva, BYU women's tennis fell 5-2 to Missouri on Friday at the Mizzou Tennis Complex.
"Toby really stepped up and her energy in singles was excellent," BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. "Natella also did well and fought hard in singles to pull out the win but we have some things as a team we need to focus on before we head to Texas next week. "
The Tigers (8-1) swept the Cougars (1-4) in doubles to score the first point of the match. At the No. 2 doubles slot, senior Nicolette Poulsen and sophomore Brittanie Eraso fell 6-3 to Cassidy Spearman and Brianna Lashway before Miclat and fellow junior Mayci Jones lost 6-4 at No. 1 singles to Kelli Hine and Bea Machado Santos.
In singles action, Toby Miclat won her third singles match of the season by defeating the Tigers' Lashway 6-4, 6-4, at the No. 2 spot.
Jones was defeated 6-1, 6-1, at first singles and Ware dropped the No. 4 matchup 6-1, 7-5. Poulsen, playing at No. 3, lost 6-1, 6-3.
With the Cougars trailing 4-1, Nabieva secured a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Mizzou's Clare Raley before freshman Taylah Beckman dropped the No. 6 match, losing close in the first set 7-6 (7-4) and 6-3 in the second.
BYU travels to Lubbock, Texas, next week to face Texas Tech on Friday, Feb. 19, at 4:00 p.m. CST at the McLeod Tennis Center. Live stats will be available through the schedule page.
Mizzou 5, BYU 2
Singles competition
1. Bea Machado Santos (MIZ) def. Mayci Jones (BYU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Toby Miclat (BYU) def. Brianna Lashway (MIZ) 6-4, 6-4
3. Kelli Hine (MIZ) def. Nicolette Poulsen (BYU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Brittany Lashway (MIZ) def. Savannah Ware (BYU) 6-1, 7-5
5. Natella Nabieva (BYU) def. Clare Raley (MIZ) 7-5, 6-3
6. Turner Yates (MIZ) def. Taylah Beckman (BYU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Kelli Hine/Bea Machado Santos (MIZ) def. Mayci Jones/Toby Miclat (BYU) 6-3
2. Cassidy Spearman/Brianna Lashway (MIZ) def. Nicolette Poulsen/Brittanie Eraso (BYU) 6-3
3. Clare Raley/Turner Yates (MIZ) vs. Savannah Ware/Natella Nabieva (BYU) 5-4, unfinished
Match Notes:
BYU 1-4
Mizzou 8-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,1,2,4,5,6)
PROVO, Utah – BYU women's tennis (1-2) travels to Columbia, Missouri this week to play Wichita State and the University of Missouri, Columbia.
The Cougars will face No. 34 Wichita State on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. CST and the Univeristy of Missouri, Columbia on Friday, Feb. 12 at 12:00 p.m. CST. Both matches will be played at the Mizzou Tennis Complex.
"We have some tough opponents this week. Wichita is a good team and Missouri will be tough at home," BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. "We have to make sure that we're really focused and really positive in our singles play."
Wichita State (5-2) has defeated No. 37 Oklahoma and No. 60 Minnesota this season. BYU has a 2-5 all-time record against Wichita State.
"It's going to be a great opportunity to play Wichita at a nuetral site and to face a ranked opponent on the road," Jones-Spencer said.
The University of Missouri, Columbia (6-0) has yet to lose a match this season. This will be the first meeting between BYU and Missouri.