San Diego, Calif.- The 53rd-ranked Utah women’s tennis team (6-4) defeated Texas Tech (5-8), 4-3, in the semifinals of the Barnes Collegiate Women’s Invitational, Thursday. Freshman Lexi Provancha clinched the match for the Utes with her 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, win over Stefanie Peana at the No. 5 position. Utah will face 44th-ranked Ole Miss (7-5) in the finals Friday at 12:30 p.m. PT.
“A great college tennis match was played today,” said head coach Mat Iandolo. “Texas Tech has had a good year that includes a win over our conference rival TCU. Tomorrow’s match against Ole Miss gives us an opportunity to play a ranked SEC team.”
Freshmen Anastasia Putilina and Lisa Johnson at the No. 1 spot defeated Kerryn Potgieter and Peana, 8-4. Seniors Leigh Walsh and Karine Bourdages clinched the doubles point for the Utes from the No. 3 spot with an 8-6 win over Simone Templeton and Natalie Leitch.
Juniors Erin Monson and Andrea Maughan topped Samantha van der Drift and Kelsy Garland at the No. 1 position, 8-7(7).
In singles play Walsh fell to Leitch at the No. 4 spot, 6-4, 6-3, leveling the score 1-1. Bourdages then defeated Potgieter at the No. 6 position, 6-4, 6-3, to put the Utes up 2-1. At the No. 3 spot Johnson lost to Templeton, 6-2, 7-6(2), to even things back up, 2-2.
Putilina overpowered van der Drift at the No. 1 position, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1, setting Provancha up to seal the Utes victory, 4-2.
Monson fell to Garland in a hard fought three set match at the No. 2 spot, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
#53 Utah 4, Texas Tech 3
Doubles competition
1. Erin Monson/Andrea Maughan (UT) def. Samantha van der Drift/Kelsy Garland (TT) 8-7(7)
2. Anastasia Putilina/Lisa Johnson (UT) def. Kerryn Potgieter/Stefanie Peana (TT) 8-4
3. Leigh Walsh/Karine Bourdages (UT) def. Simone Templeton/Natalie Leitch (TT) 8-6
Singles competition
1. Anastasia Putilina (UT) def. Samantha van der Drift (TT) 3-6, 7-6, 6-1
2. Kelsy Garland (TT) def. Erin Monson (UT) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
3. Simone Templeton (TT) def. Lisa Johnson (UT) 6-2, 7-6(2)
4. Natalie Leitch (TT) def. Leigh Walsh (UT) 6-4, 6-3
5. Lexi Provancha (UT) def. Stefanie Peana (TT) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
6. Karine Bourdages (UT) def. Kerryn Potgieter (TT) 6-4, 6-3
