Kate Cusick Truman leads Cougars to a 5-2 win over Weber State

PROVO, Utah – In their first dual match of the season, BYU (1-0) took a 5-2 win over Weber State (0-0) at home in competitive play Saturday.

“We played through some first match jitters today and I was proud of how hard we fought, and it was fun for our freshman to experience college tennis with a full house of fans,” said BYU head coach Holly Parkinson Hasler. "Weber is a solid team with great depth, and I was pleased to see the girls implement the things we've been working on. I love this team, and I'm excited to see what we can achieve this together this season."

Helen Jiao and Madeline Almeida Wanlass took the first win of the day, 6-0, in an easy No. 3 doubles match against Weber State’s McKenna Lloyd and Megan Lombardi. No. 1 doubles team Kate Cusick Truman and Leah Heimuli finished next to clinch the doubles point for the Cougars, beating the Wildcats' Patty Kuo and Yuuna Ukita in a tight 6-4. Polina Malykh and Emilee Astle finished off their match with a 7-5 win over Weber’s Caitlin Herb and Ana Moret Salas.

Cusick Truman battled hard against Kuo in the No. 1 spot, but after an intense back and forth, she came away with the first singles point in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. Heimuli grabbed BYU’s second win of the day over Lombardi in the No. 2 singles spot, finishing her first match with a decisive 6-4, 6-3 win. In the No. 3 spot, Almeida Wanlass clinched a win and the final point to secure the dual match, finishing 6-3, 7-6 against Weber’s Herb.

After an intense back and forth, BYU’s Malykh fell to Ukita in No. 4 singles after three sets 6-2, 5-7, 0-1. Jiao played in the No. 5 spot, falling to Moret Salas in a tough three sets 6-4, 1-6, 0-1, but then Astle played a clean game in the No. 6 spot to push BYU over the edge, beating Lloyd 6-2, 6-4.

The Cougars will play their next three dual matches on the road, battling Grand Canyon University next on Jan. 24, 1 p.m. MST.

Doubles

1. Leah Heimuli/Kate Cusick Truman (BYU) def. Patty Kuo/Yuuna Ukita (WSU) 6-4
2. Polina Malykh/Emilee Astle (BYU) def. Caitlin Herb/Ana Moret Salas (WSU) 7-5
3. Helen Jiao/Madeline Almeida Wanlass (BYU) def. Mckenna Lloyd/Megan Lombardi 6-0

Singles

1. Kate Cusick Truman (BYU) def. Patty Kuo (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Leah Heimuli (BYU) def. Megan Lombardi (WSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Madeline Almeida Wanlass (BYU) def. Caitlin Herb (WSU) 6-3, 7-6
4. Yuuna Ukita (WSU) def. Polina Malykh (BYU) 2-6, 7-5, 1-0
5. Ana Moret Salas (WSU) def. Helen Jiao (BYU)  4-6, 6-1, 1-0
6. Emilee Astle (BYU) vs. McKenna Lloyd (WSU) 6-2, 6-4