PROVO, Utah – Washington started off their long road trip strong after defeating BYU, 4-3 this afternoon at the BYU Indoor Tennis Courts. Freshman Erika Matsuda clinched the win for the 16th-ranked Dawgs after defeating her opponent at No. 6 singles during the final match of the day to break the 3-3 tie. The Huskies extended their win streak to nine and are now 15-3 on the season.
In their nonconference finale, the Huskies needed to rally with four singles wins after dropping the doubles point. Sarah-Maude Fortin, Astrid Olsen, and Jennifer Kerr all won to set the stage for Matsuda, who blanked Emmie Moore, 6-0, in the first set. Moore took a 3-2 lead in the second set, but then Matsuda got on another roll and won the final four games to finish the 6-0, 6-3 win.
In doubles play, Kerr and Olsen were defeated by Bobo Huang and Tina Li (3-6) at No. 2 doubles. The Cougars clinched the doubles matchups after Emilee Astle and Jacque Dunyon defeated Hikaru Sato and Zehra Suko at No. 1 doubles, 5-7.
With just four courts at BYU, the top four singles matches went on first, and No. 5 and No. 6 had to wait until matches finished before starting. Of the first four matches, the Huskies were able to take three to hold a 3-2 lead, needing just one of the final two.
Sarah-Maude Fortin started the rally by defeating Emilee Astle (6-0, 6-4) at No. 2 singles. Jennifer Kerr split sets with opponent, Jacque Dunyon, but took an early third set lead and held on to defeat Dunyon (3-6, 6-1, 6-4) at No. 4 singles. Kerr raises her win streak to double digits after 10 consecutive match wins.
Astrid Olsen followed in her teammate’s footsteps after pulling out a 7-6 (8), 6-4 win over Tina Li at No. 3. Olsen raised her win streak to eight and awarded the Huskies with their third match point.
Hikaru Sato battled it out at No. 1 singles but fell short to Bobo Huang, 3-6, 6-7. BYU’s Helen Jiao tied up the match after defeating junior Melissa Sakar, 4-6, 2-6, at No. 5 singles. But Matsuda never wavered to clinch things in the No. 6 spot.
The Huskies will return to Pac-12 play tomorrow and try to extend their 5-0 conference start with another big challenge at 60th-ranked Utah at 12:30 p.m.
Washington Women’s Tennis
April 6, 2023
Provo, Utah
#16 Washington – 4
#71 BYU – 3
Singles
1. Bobo Huang (BYU) def. (#97) Hikaru Sato (UW) – 6-3, 7-6 (7)
2. Sarah-Maude Fortin (UW) def. Emilee Astle (BYU) – 6-0, 6-4
3. Astrid Olsen (UW) def. Tina Li…
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