Seniors triumph for Cougars in regionals

LAS -- Seniors Elle Carney and Elizaveta Ezhova came out victorious for the BYU women’s tennis team on the first day of the ITA Mountain Region Championships.

Carney defeated Weber State’s Kristi Russell in straight sets Wednesday (6-2, 7-5) and Ezhova took her match against Annika Karlsen, also of WSU (7-5, 6-3).

In the second round, Carney beat Monica Abella of Utah State 6-3, 6-1. Ezhova lost to Jaci West of Utah State in a well-fought 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 duel.

The seniors were joined by No. 4 seed Callie Craig of Orem, Utah, who swept the match with Annemieke Witte of New Mexico State, only giving up one game the entire match (6-0, 6-1). Megan Price also played in the second round after a bye, but was defeated by Wyoming's Simona Synkova 6-4, 7-5.

Cougars Kelsie Craig and Andie Young, both of Orem, Utah, and Aubrey Paul of Sandy, Utah, fell to their first-round opponents. Kelsie Craig lost 6-3, 6-0 to Carla Manzi of Colorado and Young lost to UNLV’s Ella Bourchier 6-2, 6-0. Paul took on Wena Tsan of Montana State, putting up a good fight but falling in the last set 7-6, 1-6, 6-3.

Doubles play starts Thursday, with Carney and Paul playing Kristina Schleich and Abbie Probert of Colorado in the first round.

Doubles pairs Callie Craig and Price and Kelsie Craig and Ezhova have byes in the first round.

To access tournament results, click here.