PROVO, Utah – In their first dual match of the season, BYU (1-0) took a 5-2 win over Weber State (0-0) at home in competitive play Saturday.

“We played through some first match jitters today and I was proud of how hard we fought, and it was fun for our freshman to experience college tennis with a full house of fans,” said BYU head coach Holly Parkinson Hasler. "Weber is a solid team with great depth, and I was pleased to see the girls implement the things we've been working on. I love this team, and I'm excited to see what we can achieve this together this season."

Helen Jiao and Madeline Almeida Wanlass took the first win of the day, 6-0, in an easy No. 3 doubles match against Weber State’s McKenna Lloyd and Megan Lombardi. No. 1 doubles team Kate Cusick Truman and Leah Heimuli finished next to clinch the doubles point for the Cougars, beating the Wildcats' Patty Kuo and Yuuna Ukita in a tight 6-4. Polina Malykh and Emilee Astle finished off their match with a 7-5 win over Weber’s Caitlin Herb and Ana Moret Salas.

Cusick Truman battled hard against Kuo in the No. 1 spot, but after an intense back and forth, she came away with the first singles point in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. Heimuli grabbed BYU’s second win of the day over Lombardi in the No. 2 singles spot, finishing her first match with a decisive 6-4, 6-3 win. In the No. 3 spot, Almeida Wanlass clinched a win and the final point to secure the dual match, finishing 6-3, 7-6 against Weber’s Herb.

After an intense back and forth, BYU’s Malykh fell to Ukita in No. 4 singles after three sets 6-2, 5-7, 0-1. Jiao played in the No. 5 spot, falling to Moret Salas in a tough three sets 6-4, 1-6, 0-1, but then Astle played a clean game in the No. 6 spot to push BYU over the edge, beating Lloyd 6-2, 6-4.

The Cougars will play their next three dual matches on the road, battling Grand Canyon University next on Jan. 24, 1 p.m. MST.

Doubles

1. Leah Heimuli/Kate Cusick Truman (BYU) def. Patty Kuo/Yuuna Ukita (WSU) 6-4
2. Polina Malykh/Emilee Astle (BYU) def. Caitlin Herb/Ana Moret Salas (WSU) 7-5
3. Helen Jiao/Madeline Almeida Wanlass (BYU) def. Mckenna Lloyd/Megan Lombardi 6-0

Singles

1. Kate Cusick Truman (BYU) def. Patty Kuo (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Leah Heimuli (BYU) def. Megan Lombardi (WSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Madeline Almeida Wanlass (BYU) def. Caitlin Herb (WSU) 6-3, 7-6
4. Yuuna Ukita (WSU) def. Polina Malykh (BYU) 2-6, 7-5, 1-0
5. Ana Moret Salas (WSU) def. Helen Jiao (BYU)  4-6, 6-1, 1-0
6. Emilee Astle (BYU) vs. McKenna Lloyd (WSU) 6-2, 6-4

PROVO, Utah – BYU women’s tennis opens the 2019-20 season at home, hosting Weber State on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 11:30 a.m. at the BYU indoor tennis courts.

The Cougars are coming off a prolific Hawaii Invitational on Jan. 9-11, bringing home 10 total wins in singles and doubles. Earlier in their fall season, new Cougar Helen Jiao brought home a second-place title in the ITA regional championships. 

Alongside Jiao, three more newcomers have been added to the BYU roster. Freshmen Emilee Astle, Emma Jewell and junior Utah transfer Leah Heimuli join five returning players: Madeline Almeida Wanlass, Morgan Hall Curtis, Anastasia Abramyan, Polina Malykh and Kate Cusick Truman. 

The Wildcats return this year with seven players, including one freshman. This will be the first season the Wildcats face BYU with their new head coach RuthAnn Allen, who previously coached Cougar Heimuli's University of Utah tennis team.

This is the fourth-straight year that BYU has opened its home campaign against the Wildcats. It is looking to extend its three-year win streak after last year's 5-2 victory.