Chiew Leads BYU's Tennis Team In First Day Of Invitational

PROVO -- All-American Eline Chiew easily won her singles match to lead the BYU team in the opening round of the BYU Invitational, Thursday.

The three-day event brings together individual players from hosts BYU, the University of Utah, Weber State and Utah State as well as Mountain West Conference schools Colorado State, Air Force and Wyoming. Team members from Washington State and Boise State are also competing in the invitational.

In the first day of competition, 32 flighted singles matches and 16 flighted doubles matches were played.

Chiew won her match in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0 over Trevina Steenkamp from Weber State. Shari Smith, Liza Khoucloiarova, Dominique Reynolds, Lu Oswald and Jamie Parker all won their singles matches for the Cougars.

Megan Payne led the University of Utah contingency defeating Amanda Bartz from Colorado State 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Lisa Ronnberg also from Utah advanced by beating Nadine Lynn from the Air Force 6-1, 6-2.

Amy Thatcher from Utah State was a winner, defeating Paulina DelMonte from Wyoming 6-2, 7-6 (9-7). Jackie Ellis also won for the Aggies with teammates Amelia Martinez, Kara Anderson and Whitney Scott losing their first day matches.

Weber State's Summer Marshall defeated Catherine Sullivan from CSU 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 while teammates Amee Evans and Dana DeLancey lost their singles matches.

In doubles action the BYU duo of Kelly/Oswald defeated the Boise State doubles team of Stoop/Attard 8-6 with Cougar teammates Reynolds/Khoudoiarova beating the Parsons/Chuntaranruk team from the Air Force 8-2.

Representing one of the doubles teams from the University of Utah were the duo of Payne/Wilkenson who played one of the longest doubles matches of the day, finally defeating the Roberts Espinosa duo from Wyoming 9-8 (6-1).

The doubles team of Marshall/Porter from Weber State beat CSU's duo of Vasas/Forrest 8-1. All four of Washington State's doubles teams won their matches in their respective divisions.

Tennis action in singles and doubles resumes tomorrow with matches beginning at 10 a.m., at BYU's outdoor tennis facility, just south of the Smith Fieldhouse. The championship matches will be played on Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. The matches are free and are open to the public.