Over the weekend, the Utah women’s tennis team completed its first tournament of 2008 at the BYU Invitational, held in Provo.
Freshman Lisa Johnson brought home the only Ute championship of the tournament in singles play of the flight B section.
The tournament was an overall success as many Ute team members advanced their way into the quarter and semifinals, with a few Utes making it beyond.
In doubles action, the Utes were led by junior Erin Monson and freshman Anastasia Putilina. The freshly minted tandem fought its way to the finals by beating Colorado State in the quarters and BYU in the semis. However, No. 1 seed Boise State proved to be too much in the finals Saturday, as they beat Utah by a score of 8-1. Another pair of U players, Julie Tukuafu and Andrea Maughan, also made it to the quarterfinals, before falling to Colorado State.
The Utes didn’t just have success in doubles action. In singles action, Johnson topped teammate Julie Tukuafu (7-5, 4-6, 6-2) in the semifinals before beating Colorado State’s Tori Arneson in the final. Johnson won the final game by a score of 7-5, 7-6. Joining Johnson and Tukuafu with successful tournament runs were Anastasia Putilina (semis), Leigh Walsh (quarters) and Dee Dee Nelson (quarters).
With Utah doing so well in each section of the tournament, the season got off to a promising start. Up next for the women’s tennis team is the ITA All-American Championships Qualifying held in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Sept. 30. Their next collegiate tournament will be at the Boise State Invitational, Oct. 3-5.