Ware-Avina, Nabieva lead Cougars to win over San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO – Seniors Savannah Ware-Avina and Natella Nabieva led BYU women’s tennis to a 4-2 victory against San Francisco on Friday at the Olympic Club. 

“I was really happy with the way we bounced back today and we really set the tone with a strong doubles performance,” BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “Singles was a battle but we dug in and our seniors were able to clinch it for us.”

With the win, BYU (8-12, 3-5 West Coast Conference) remains in contention for a spot in the WCC Tournament. The Cougars currently hold the sixth-place spot with the top six teams being selected to compete.

In doubles competition, the Cougars started off strong with wins at first and second doubles over the Dons (5-16, 2-7 WCC). Seniors Nabieva and Ware-Avina were first off the court, defeating USF’s Genevieve McCloskey and Emily Maxfield 6-1 on court one. Freshman Kate Cusick and Taylah Beckman clinched the doubles point for BYU with a 6-1 win over San Francisco’s Shanna Dos Santos and Anna Sokiran.

BYU continued the momentum in singles, with freshman Samantha Smith extending the lead to 2-0 after defeating Dos Santos 6-1, 6-1 on court four. The Dons responded with wins at the No. 6 and No. 3 slots to even the score at 2-2. Nabieva helped the Cougars retake the lead with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 comeback victory on court two over Sorikan. Following suit, fellow senior Ware-Avina clinched the match for BYU after defeating McCloskey 6-4, 6-4 at the first singles matchup.

BYU will play next in a rescheduled match against Saint Mary’s on Monday at 10:30 a.m. PST. 

BYU 4, USF 2

Singles competition

1. WARE-AVINA,Savannah (BYU) def. McCLOSKEY, Genevieve (USF) 6-4, 6-4

2. NABIEVA,Natella (BYU) def. SOKIRAN, Anna (USF) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3

3. MAXFIELD, Emily (USF) def. CUSICK,Kate (BYU) 6-4, 6-1

4. SMITH,Samantha (BYU) def. DOS SANTOS, Shanna (USF) 6-1, 6-1

5. BORJESON, Hanna (USF) vs. BECKMAN,Taylah (BYU) 7-6 (7-4), 4-4, unfinished

6. TREYES, Margarita (USF) def. PERKINSON,Demi (BYU) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. WARE-AVINA,Savannah/NABIEVA,Natella (BYU) def. McCLOSKEY, Genevieve/MAXFIELD, Emily (USF) 6-1

2. CUSICK,Kate/BECKMAN,Taylah (BYU) def. DOS SANTOS, Shanna/SOKIRAN, Anna (USF) 6-1

3. TREYES, Margarita/BORJESON, Hanna (USF) vs. SMITH,Samantha/PERKINSON,Demi (BYU) 4-4, unfinished

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