Brigham Young University
Jan 19 | 12:00 PM
2 - 5
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Anonymous | Posted: 19 Jan 2008 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
Anonymous

Full Weekend of Tennis for Cougar Teams

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PROVO -- Both the BYU men's and women's tennis teams competed at home on Saturday against Eastern Washington and Arkansas, respectively.

The No. 28 ranked BYU women fell to 2-2 on the season after a 5-2 upset by No. 53 Arkansas. Despite winning the doubles point, the Cougars were unable to hold off the Lady Razorbacks' comeback.

Anastasia Surkova and Jennifer Miccoli won their second doubles match in as many days, defeating Ela Kaluder and Aurelija Miseviciute, the No.12 ranked duo in the country. The Cougars defeated Arkansas' second ranked pair, No. 44 Maryori Franco and Nanar Airapetian, in an 8-2 win notched by Dolly Chang and Kristina Doerr.

As singles play came around, Arkansas put up a strong fight, forcing multiple third sets and tiebreakers. Surkova battled back, from down 2-5 in the first set, to win five straight games. She would eventually drop the final two sets.

BYU's only singles win came from freshman Elizaveta Ezhova, who defeated Maryori Franco 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 at the No. 3 position.

The No. 68 Cougar men (3-0) defeated the Eagles, 4-3, after a decisive 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 match between sophomore Cassidy Mears and EWU's Nico Riego de Dios. After losing the first set, Mears refused to give up and battled back to win the following two sets, giving BYU its fourth point to win the match.

"One thing I've learned with Cassidy [Mears] is that win or lose, he's going to fight," said BYU head coach Brad Pearce. "He's never going to give up. I knew he was going to fight and I'm really pleased and happy to see him come through, obviously in a huge way."

The Cougars' three other points came from wins by freshmen Thomas Shubert, Evan Urbina and Daniel Hwang.

In doubles play, Mears and Jonathan Sanchez recorded the lone win for BYU (8-4). The duo of Urbina and Hwang played for multiple match points on the second court, with their teammates' cheers ringing in the background, but were unable to seal a victory.

Up next, both teams will hit the road, with the men traveling to face UCLA and Loyola Marymount on Jan. 25-26. The women will travel north to take on Washington State and Washington that same weekend.

RESULTS

No. 28 BYU-2

No. 53 Arkansas-5

Doubles

1. Surkova/Miccoli (BYU) def. Miseviciute/Kaluder (UA), 8-4

2. Chang/Doerr (BYU) def. Airapetian/Franco (UA), 8-2

3. Tigu/Bordeleau (UA) def.Ezhova/Hayasaka (BYU), 8-3

Singles

1. A. Miseviciute (UA) def. K. Doerr (BYU), 6-2, 6-0

2. E. Laluder (UA) def. A. Surkova (BYU), 5-7, 7-5, 6-4

3. E. Ezhova (BYU) def. M. Franco (UA), 2-6, 6-4, 6-0

4. A. Tigu (UA) def. C. Hayasaka (BYU), 2-6, 6-2, 6-4

5. N. Airapetian (UA) def. E. Carney (BYU), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4

6. A. Bordeleau (UA) def. D. Chang (BYU), 6-2, 6-7, 7-5

 

 
Anonymous | Posted: 17 Jan 2008 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
Anonymous

Women's Tennis Home Opener on Friday

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PROVO -- The No. 28 BYU women's tennis team will host its first home matches of the season this weekend when it takes on Utah State and No. 53 Arkansas on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Several Cougars faced Utah State opponents at the BYU Invitational earlier in the fall season. Sophomore Kristina Doerr defeated Brianna Harris (6-3, 6-4) in the first round of singles, eventually going on to win the tournament.

The Cougars will have their hands full when they face Arkansas' Aurelija Miseviciute, who is currently ranked as the No. 1 singles player in the country. Miseviciute and doubles partner Ela Kaluder are nationally ranked No. 12, along with No. 45 Maryori Franco and Nanar Airapetian.

BYU's match against Utah State will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and the match against Arkansas will start at noon on Saturday. Admission to both matches is free. BYU "Y Lot" parking is available to visitors after 4 p.m. on Fridays and all BYU parking is open to the public on Saturdays.