Cougars defeat Houston 4-1

HOUSTON, Texas – BYU women’s tennis claims a 4-1 victory on the road against the University of Houston, Saturday.

“This score definitely does not show how tough today's match was,” said BYU head coach Holly Parkinson Hasler. "Playing outside and adapting is not the easiest, but it has been fun seeing everyone step up at different times to take care of business when needed."

With the road win, the Cougars improved their overall record to 7-3 on the year and are on a two-game win streak.

BYU won the doubles point early for a 1-0 advantage heading into singles. No. 2 doubles team Polina Malykh and Emilee Astle recorded the first victory over Phonexay Chitdara and Manasi Reddy 6-1.

At No. 1 doubles, Kate Cusick Truman and Leah Heimuli secured the doubles point for BYU with a 6-2 win against Mimi Kendall-Woseley and Azul Pedemonti.

Anastasia Abramyan and Helen Jiao finished next in their No. 3 doubles match, falling 2-6 to Elena Tairyan and Jovana Vukovic.

Houston tied up the score at 1-1 in singles after Cusick Truman fell to Kendall-Woseley 3-6, 2-6 in No. 1 singles. BYU’s Abramyan was next to finish, defeating Stephanie Belovukovic in No. 4 singles 6-2, 6-3.

Heimuli rallied in No. 3 singles with a three-set victory over Pedemonti 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Astle was the next BYU player to make a comeback in her No. 5 singles match after her three-set 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory secured the 4-1 match for the visiting Cougars.

Malykh and Jiao did not complete their No. 2 and No. 6 singles matches due to time constraints.

BYU returns to Provo for two home matches next week. The Cougars face the University of Arizona on Wednesday, Mar. 11, at 10 a.m. Following the matchup, BYU faces Saint Mary's Saturday, Mar. 14, at 10 a.m. to begin conference play.

Doubles

1. Kate Cusick Truman and Leah Heimuli (BYU) def. Mimi Kendall-Woseley and Azul Pedemonti (UH) 6-2
2. Polina Malykh and Emilee Astle (BYU) def. Phonexay Chitdara and Manasi Reddy (UH) 6-1
3. Elena Tairyan and Jovana Vukovic (UH) def. Helen Jiao and Anastasia Abramyan (BYU) 6-2

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles

1. Mimi Kendall-Woseley (UH) def. Kate Cusick Truman (BYU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Polina Malykh (BYU) vs. Phonexay Chitdara (UH)  DNF
3. Leah Heimuli (BYU) def. Azul Pedemonti (UH) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
4. Anastasia Abramyan (BYU) def. Stephanie Belovukovic (UH) 6-2, 6-3
5. Emilee Astle (BYU) def. Elena Tairyan (UH) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
6. Helen Jiao (BYU) vs. Jovana Vukovic (UH) DNF

Order of finish: 1, 4, 3, 5