SAN DIEGO – Led by sophomore Kate Cusick and senior Mayci Jones, the BYU women's tennis team defeated San Diego State 5-2 to finish off its three-match road trip 2-1. 

"Today was a big day. We talked about coming back strong after a tough loss and the girls did just that," said BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer. "To win five out of six singles matches on the road is tough to do, but my girls wanted it and fought hard. It was a great ending to our first road trip of the season."

Doubles partners Cusick and Jones brought the Cougars (3-1) their first match victory of the day against the Aztecs (5-2). In No. 2 doubles, the duo beat Jana Buth and Paola Dias of San Diego State 6-4. However, the Aztecs fought back to secure the first point of the match. In No. 3 doubles sophomores Samantha Smith and Polina Malykh were just edged out by San Diego State's Magda Aubets and Nnena Nadozie 6-4.

Freshman Anastasia Abramyan and junior Taylah Beckman in No. 1 doubles were defeated by San Diego State's Jenny Moinard and Mia Smith 6-4 to give the Aztecs the 1-0 lead to start the match. 

Down a point, Abramyan helped the Cougars get on the board with a convincing win over Aubets in No. 2 singles, winning 6-0, 6-3. Malykh, who remains undefeated in regular season singles play (4-0), in No. 5 singles gave BYU its first lead of the day taking down the Aztecs' Abbie Mulbarger 6-2, 6-3 and making it 2-1. Freshman Hermehr Kaur at No. 6 singles extended the Cougars' lead with a victory over SDSU's Mia Smith 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 to put the Cougars up 3-1. 

The Aztecs cut the lead to one in No. 3 singles as Moinard defeated freshman Madeline Almeida 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 giving the true freshman her first loss of the season in singles play. With the score 3-2 for BYU, Cusick clinched the dual match in No. 4 singles in a battle against Nadozie. The two traded sets throughout the match, including a tiebreaker in the first set, but Cusick overcame Nadozie 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2 keeping Cusick's regular season singles play perfect (4-0) and making it 4-2 for BYU.

In the final match of the day in No. 1 singles Jones competed against Buth in an intense match that ended with a tiebreaker in the first set. After losing the tiebreaker, Jones came back to beat Buth 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4 and give the Cougars the 5-2 victory over the Aztecs.

BYU returns to Provo to compete against Denver at home on Friday, Feb. 16 at 12:00 p.m. MST. Live streaming and stats will be available on team's online schedule.

Match results: 

Doubles competition: 

1. Jenny Moinard/Mia Smith (SDSU) def. Anastasia Abramyan/Taylah Beckman (BYU) 6-4

2. Mayci Jones/Kate Cusick (BYU) def. Jana Buth/Paola Diaz (SDSU) 6-4

3. Magda Aubets/Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) def. Samantha Smith/Polina Malykh (BYU) 6-4

Singles competition

1. Mayci Jones (BYU) def. Jana Buth (SDSU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-4

2. Anastasia Abramyan (BYU) def. Magda Aubets (SDSU) 6-0, 6-3

3. Jenny Moinard (SDSU) def. Madeline Almeida (BYU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3

4. Kate Cusick (BYU) def. Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2

5. Polina Malykh (BYU) def. Abbie Mulbarger (SDSU) 6-2, 6-3

6. Hermehr Kaur (BYU) def. Mia Smith (SDSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2

Match Notes:

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,5,6,3,4,1)

PROVO, Utah – After a perfect sweep of Weber State in the home opener, BYU travels to California this week to take on UC Irvine, Long Beach State and San Diego State for its first road matches of the season.

The Cougars (1-0) did not compete this past week and hope to take advantage of the extra practice time and rest as they prepare for back-to-back matches on the road. They will face UC Irvine on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m. PST. The following day, BYU will then travel to Long Beach to take on Long Beach State on Friday, Feb. 9, at 2:00 p.m. PST. The Cougars will end the road trip against San Diego State on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 12:00 p.m. PST. 

Following last year’s season ending injuries, senior Mayci Jones and sophomore Polina Malykh each returned to regular season play in the Cougars 7-0 victory over the Wildcats. In their return, neither dropped a single set against Weber State.

Jones earned her first victory of the season in No.2 doubles with teammate sophomore Kate Cusick and followed it up with a win at No. 1 singles. In No. 3 doubles, Malykh and sophomore Samantha Smith delivered a strong win and Malykh closed out the sweep in a victory at No. 6 singles.

This past weekend UC Irivine competed in a doubleheader at home against Hope International and Point Loma. The ‘Eaters swept Hope International 7-0, but later fell to Point Loma 4-3. UC Irvine enters Thursday’s match against BYU with a 1-3 record.

Long Beach State played against WCC foe, Saint Mary’s this past Saturday in Long Beach. The 49ers lost to the Gaels in a 5-1 decision to fall to 1-1 on the season.

San Diego Stae hosted Point Loma Nazarene Monday and completed the home sweep, winning 7-0. The Aztecs now sit at 5-1 on the season.

No live stats or live video will be available for the three road matches.