SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah women’s tennis program is set to return to the George S. Eccles Tennis center this Friday, where they will host the BYU Cougars for rivalry action at home.
MATCH INFORMATION
Utah (3-2) vs. BYU (4-0)
DATE | TIME: Friday, Feb. 9 | 5:00 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Salt Lake City, UT | George S. Eccles Tennis Center
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TWITTER UPDATES: @UteWomensTennis
FIRST SERVE
The Utes will welcome the Cougars to the George S. Eccles Tennis center on Friday to play a rivalry match on their home courts. The first serve is set to be at 5 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah faced No. 5 Michigan on Friday Jan. 26, finding their first loss of the 2024 campaign. Ute duos Emma Kamper/Kaila Barksdale and Sara Akid/Kat Lyman were defeated 6-0, which allowed Michigan the doubles point advantage.
The Utes struggled to gain momentum in singles. Lyman was defeated 6-0, 6-1, while Ana Luiza Cruz was defeated 6-1, 6-1. The Wolverines clinched the match victory after Yuhan Liu fell 6-2, 6-3, giving Michigan a 4-0 edge. The remaining matches were left unfinished.
Utah fell to Purdue in a 4-2 loss on Saturday Jan. 27. The Boilermakers grabbed the first win in doubles over Akid and Lyman 6-1, while Kamper and Barksdale picked up a 6-4 win on the third court. With the doubles point coming down to the third match, Cruz partnered up with Marcela Lopez fell 6-2.
The Utes started strong in singles with a 6-3, 6-0 win by Akid. Next to finish was Lyman who grabbed a 6-0, 7-6 victory. Utah had the 2-1 edge, however, the Boilermakers grabbed a 6-3, 6-3 win over Kamper, followed by a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Barksdale, allowing Purdue a 3-2 edge. Liu battled hard on the third court, sending her match to a third set but fell 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-5
IN THE RANKS
Utah’s Marcela Lopez is ranked No. 59 in the country after posting a 3-0 record so far on the season. In the fall she claimed a runner-up title at the ITA Regionals and made an ITA Championship appearance where she picked up two wins in consolation play.
HEAD COACH RIC MORTERA
Ric Mortera is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Utah women’s tennis program entering the 2024 spring slate. So far in his tenure he has accumulated a 48-43 overall record. In the 2022-23 season, under Coach Mortera’s leadership, the Utes notched a…
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