LAS VEGAS – The Utah Women’s tennis team has opened play at the Jolene Watanabe Classic hosted by UNLV. The Utes picked up three wins on the day.
“We have some things to be excited about today and some things I wish we could redo a bit,” remarked head coach Ric Mortera. “We saw some uncharacteristic mistakes in doubles that we look forward to cleaning up in the coming days. However, there was a lot of positive progress out there, and we are excited to get back out there tomorrow.”
Utah started the day off in doubles. In the first flight, Anastasia Goncharova and Marcela Lopez teamed up to defeat LBSU opponents Sheena Masuda and Rhona Cook 6-4. Samantha Horwood and Katya Hersh competed against Alicia Melosch and Andrea Velcea from SDSU in the second double flight. The Utes lost 6-2.
Goncharova hit the courts for the second time to go head-to-head with Iowa’s Marissa Schmidt in singles flight one. She was able to clinch her victory, 6-2, 6-1. Marcela Lopez also won her singles match in the second flight against Cook 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
Velcea defeated Samantha Horwood in a tough match, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in the third flight. Her doubles partner, Katya Hersh, also took her singles match to the third set against Hana Becirovic Novak from LBSU and lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
Utah will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Jolene Watanabe Classic.
Day 1 Results
DOUBLE QUARTERFINALS (FLIGHT 1)
Anastasia Goncharova/Marcela Lopez (Utah) def. Sheena Masuda/Rhona Cook (LBSU) 6-4
DOUBLE QUARTERFINALS (FLIGHT 2)
Alicia Melosch/Andreea Velcea (SDSU) def. Samantha Horwood/Katya Hersh (Utah) 6-2
SINGLES QUARTERFINALS (FLIGHT 1)
Anastasia Goncharova (Utah) def. Marissa Schmidt (Iowa) 6-2, 6-1
SINGLES QUARTERFINALS (FLIGHT 2)
Marcela Lopez (Utah) def. Rhona Cook (LBSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
SINGLES QUARTERFINALS (FLIGHT 3)
Andreea Velcea (SDSU) def. Samantha Horwood (Utah) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
SINGLES QUARTERFINALS (FLIGHT 4)
Hana Becirovic Novak (LBSU) def. Katya Hersh (Utah) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
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