MEMPHIS -- In the first matches of the season, the BYU women’s tennis team started off strong in the Memphis Winter Invitational, grabbing a doubles point from Missouri and four singles points from Memphis Thursday and Friday.

The tournament started Thursday with singles play against Memphis. Megan Price beat Courtney Collins 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Freshman Callie Craig defeated Stefanie Mikesz 6-1, 6-2.

Desiree Tran, the Cougars’ newest player, made her debut with a victory against Andrea Arques-Garcia (1-6, 6-4, 6-2) and senior Liza Ezhova soundly defeated Kelly Gray (6-1, 6-0).

In the No. 2 position, Elle Carney fell to Mariya Slupska and Aubrey Paul fell to Kathleen Hawkins.

Friday began with doubles against Missouri, with Carney and Price defeating Kaitlyn Ritchie and Mallory Weber 8-6 and Craig and Paul defeating Maria Christensen and Jamie Mera 8-5.

Tran and Ezhova lost their match to Annemijn Koenen and Rachel Stuhlmann.

Friday’s singles matches were tough for the Cougars, with only Craig defeating her Ole Miss opponent.

Saturday, the Cougars will take on Ole Miss in doubles at 10 a.m. MT and Memphis and Missouri in singles starting at 3:30 p.m. MT.

Memphis Winter Invitational
Day One 
Memphis-2     BYU-4
Singles
1. M. Price (BYU) def. C. Collins (Memp.) (6-3, 1-6, 6-3
2. M. Slupska (Memp.) def. E. Carney (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
3. C. Craig (BYU) def. S. Mikesz (Memp.) 6-1, 6-2
4. D. Tran (BYU) def. A. Arques-Garcia (Memp.) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. L. Ezhova (BYU) def. K. Gray (Memp.) 6-1, 6-0
6. K. Hawkins (Memp.) def. A. Paul (BYU) 7-5, 5-7, 11-9
Day Two
Mizzou-0     BYU-1
Doubles
1. Carney/Price (BYU) def. Ritchie/Weber (Mizzou) 8-6
2. Craig/Paul (BYU) def. Christensen/Mera (MIzzou) 8-5
3. Koenen/Stuhlmann (Mizzou) def. Tran/Ezhova (BYU) 8-0
Ole Miss-5     BYU-1
Singles
1. K. Boxx (Ole Miss) def. M. Price (BYU) 6-3, 6-4
2. C. Vogel (Ole Miss) def. E. Carney (BYU) 6-1, 6-1
3. C. Craig (BYU)def.  L. von de Stroet (Ole Miss) 6-2, 6-1
4. A. Guthrie (Ole Miss) def. D. Tran (BYU) 6-3, 6-3
5. V. Vlaar (Ole Miss) def. E. Ezhova (BYU) 7-5, 7-6 (2)
6. G. Rangel (Ole Miss) def. A. Paul (BYU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2

MEMPHIS -- With five new recruits and one ranked doubles duo, the BYU women’s tennis team will start off the spring season with competition against three schools at the Memphis Winter Invitational Thursday through Saturday.

The Cougars open the season ranked No. 73 in the nation and will compete against No. 18 Ole Miss, Missouri and Memphis.

BYU had a positive fall season, with freshman Callie Craig taking the BYU Invitational singles title and doubles title with team captain Megan Price. Price and Craig lead the Cougars in singles, each with an 8-4 record, and in doubles with a 9-2 record. The duo is joined by senior Elle Carney boasting an 8-5 record.

Singles play starts Thursday at 6 p.m. MT with match against Memphis. Friday, the Cougars will take on Missouri in doubles at 7 a.m. and Ole Miss in singles at 10 a.m. The Cougars’ final matches will take place Saturday with doubles matches against Ole Miss at 10 a.m. and Memphis at 3 p.m.