PROVO -- The No. 58 BYU women's tennis team earned a 4-3 victory over No. 72 Texas Tech on Saturday to secure an undefeated weekend at home. With the win BYU improves to 4-5 on the season.
For the first time since playing Washington State earlier in the season, the Cougars won all three of their doubles matches.
"[Elle Carney and Elizaveta Ezhova] played really well at the No. 3 position today," said BYU head coach Craig Manning. "It's been a while since we've won all three of our doubles matches, and it was good to win one at No. 3."
In singles play, Kristina Doerr made quick work of her Texas Tech opponent, winning 8-3, 8-3. BYU lost its next two matches at the No. 3 and 4 positions, however, senior Anastasia Surkova stepped up to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 over the Red Raiders' Samantha van der Drift.
With the match-winning point on the line, it came down to the play of Carney and Chie Hayasaka. Carney pulled out a three-set victory to clinch the match for the Cougars.
"I was really nervous," said Carney. "I knew it was coming down to me and Chie and my heart was racing."
Up next the Cougars prepare to host Denver and Kansas State on Feb. 22-23.
RESULTSNo. 72 Texas Tech - 3
No. 58 BYU - 4
February 16, 2008
Doubles
1. Surkova/Miccoli (BYU) def. Garland/Van Der Drift (TTU) 8-3
2. Chang/Doerr (BYU) def. Potgieter/Durham (TTU) 9-7
3. Ezhova/Hayasaka (BYU) def. Ballus/Templeton (TTU) 8-0
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. A. Surkova (BYU) def. S. Van Der Drift (TTU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-0
2. K. Doerr (BYU) def. K. Garland (TTU) 6-3, 6-3
3. S. Templeton (TTU) def. D. Chang (BYU) 6-3, 6-2
4. J. Durham (TTU) def. E. Ezhova (BYU) 6-1, 7-5
5. K. Potgieter (TTU) def. C. Hayasaka (BYU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
6. E. Carney (BYU) def. M. Andres (TTU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 6, 5
PROVO -- The No. 58 BYU women's tennis team will return home to host a pair of dual matches against ranked opponents in No. 49 Boise State and No. 72 Texas Tech this weekend. The Cougars (2-5) hope to rebound after suffering a loss to Notre Dame on Feb. 5.
"We're excited to get back and play here at home," said BYU head coach Craig Manning. "Things are getting better and we're improving in every match we play. Our main focus is to keep progressing."
Boise State (2-1) is coming off a pair of successful sweeps against No. 67 Utah and Eastern Washington. The nation's 81st ranked singles player, Bianca Jochimsen, is helping to lead the Broncos, along with the No. 40 doubles pair of Polina Kokoulina and Pichitira Thongdach.
Having lost only one match so far this season as well, Texas Tech will come to Provo after securing two home wins over North Texas and No. 68 Nevada last weekend. Two of the Red Raiders' freshmen, Simone Templeton and Kelsy Garland, remain undefeated in singles actions so far this season.
BYU's match against Boise State will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday and the match against Texas Tech will start at noon on Saturday. Boise State and Texas Tech will face each other at 3 p.m. on Friday.
All matches will be played at the BYU Indoor Tennis Courts and admission is free. BYU "Y Lot" parking is available to visitors after 4 p.m. on weekdays and all BYU parking is open to the public on Saturdays.