SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah women’s tennis team wrapped up its first weekend of fall competition with strong performances from several Utes.
First, Kaila Barksdale competed in the ITA All-American Tournament in Cary, N.C. She battled in a three set match against Eva Alvarez Sande from Washington State. Barksdale dropped the first set 6-2 but won the second set in a tiebreak with a 7-6 (7-4) score to force a third set. Barksdale kept the score close in the third set but fell 6-4.
In the consolation bracket, Barksdale picked up a 6-1 first set win over Ana Vilcek from Hawaii. Vilcek retired, giving Barksdale the victory.
The rest of the squad competed at the Southern California Invitational in San Diego, Calif.
Sara Akid started the tournament off with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Charlotte Roesch from San Diego State. She went on to the round of 16 and fell 6-2, 6-1 to BYU’s Grace Levelston.
Emma Kamper picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win over San Jose State’s Olaya Bances Iglesias in the opening round. She followed that up with an intense battle in the round of 16. After dropping the first set 6-1, Kamper picked up a 7-6 (7-4) second set win and then came away with a 6-3 win in the third set to defeat Zoe Olmos from San Diego State to advance to the quarterfinal round.
Kamper took her next match into three sets with University of San Diego’s Hannah Read but ultimately fell, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Emma Vallert also picked up a first round win over Carla Urchoeguia from San Jose State with 6-1, 6-4 scores. She then fell 6-1, 6-2 to Emilija Tverijonaite in the round of 16.
In doubles action, Akid and Kamper teammed up to make a run all the way to the finals. In the opening round, Akid and Kamper defeated San Diego’s Kristina Nordikyan and Read in a tiebreak with a 7-6 (9-7) score.
In the quarterfinal round, Akid and Kamper defeated Carla Urchoeguia and Cheuk Ying Shek from San Jose State with a 6-4 score advancing the Utah duo to the semifinal.
The Ute duo continued its momentum picking up a 6-2 win over Jo-Yee Chan and Ninon Martinache from San Diego State to place Akid and Kamper in the finals.
Utah’s run fell just short in the end with a 6-3 loss to Patricja Spaka and Sara Svetac from Arizona State in the championship match.
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