Ware-Avina leads Cougars in loss at Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. – Senior Savannah Ware-Avina continued to shine but BYU women's tennis fell 4-3 against Fresno State on Friday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center in Fresno, California.

'It was a tough weekend for us." BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. "We came out too slow in doubles and let Fresno State take control. I'm happy Savannah had such a great weekend. She's playing really well and leaving everything out there on the court."

The Cougars (3-7, 0-0 West Coast Conference) failed to capture the doubles point after falling 6-1 at third doubles and 6-2 at first singles. 

In singles, the Bulldogs (8-6) continued to roll, pulling out victories at the No. 6 and No. 3 slots to take a 3-0 lead in the match. Ware-Avina then scored the Cougars first point of the match with a 6-2, 6-1 win against Fresno State's Katerina Stloukalova at first singles.

Fresno State clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-1 victory on court No. 5. Freshman Samantha Smith also scored the next Cougar point in the match with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win at fourth singles against the Bulldogs' Juliane Triebe. Senior Natella Nabieva battled hard at the No. 2 spot but fell 6-7 (2), 6-2 to Emma Wilson and the Bulldogs took the match 5-2. 

BYU will return to California next week to face San Diego on Wednesday, March 15 at 1:30 PDT.  

Fresno State 5, BYU 2

Singles competition

1. Savannah Ware-Avina (BYU) def. Katerina Stloukalova (FS) 6-2, 6-1
2. Emma Wilson (FS) def. Natella Nabieva (BYU) 6-7 (2), 2-6 
3. Galina Bykova (FS) def. Kate Cusick (BYU) 2-6, 2-6 
4. Samantha Smith (BYU) def. Juliane Triebe (FS) 6-3, 7-6 (4) 
5. Ndindi Ndunda (FS) def. Taylah Beckman (BYU) 4-6, 1-6
6. Georgia Lawson (FS) def. Alana Bourgeois (BYU) 1-6 1-6

Doubles competition

1. Emma Wilson/Olivia Noble (FS) def. Savannah Ware-Avina/Samantha Smith (BYU) 6-2
2. Kate Cusick/Natella Nabieva (BYU) vs. Georgia Lawson/Juliane Triebe (FS) unf
3. Katerina Stloukalova/Galina Bykova (FS) def. Taylah Beckman/Alan Bourgeois (BYU) 6-1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,3,1,5,4,2)