Utes Look to Attack Aztecs in Weekend Matchup
September 26, 2019
The University of Utah women’s tennis team will take part in the San Diego State Fall Classic beginning on Friday.
Last weekend, the Utes took part in the Miami Fall Invite in Coral Gables, Florida, where they took on competitors from the University of Miami, Louisiana State, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast and Georgia State. The Utes had a strong showing with seven singles victories. Whitney Hekking and Maddison Tattini had a great weekend, tearing through doubles before falling to their competitors from the Miami Hurricanes on the final day.
San Diego State will begin their tennis season this weekend against the Utes after going 15-10 through all competitions last season. The Aztecs are looking to start the year strong after losing 0-4 in the conference championship last season against the UNLV Rebels.
Utah is 3-5 against San Diego State overall with their largest margin of victory coming in a 5-2 route of the Aztecs in 2010.
Tattini and Hekking are two Utes to keep your eye on this weekend as the 55th-ranked duo in the nation. The two had a strong showing to begin the year with a victory over Florida Gulf Coast before falling to Miami later in the invitational. Hekking is a senior leader on the team from Kaysville, Utah, and Tattini is a sophomore from Lexington, Illinois. Last season, Tattini earned the ITA Mountain Region Freshman of the Year. Hekking had a good season in 2018 as well, going 11-9 in singles and playing a part in victories over 17th-ranked North Carolina State and 10th-ranked Washington.
Madeline Lamoreaux is a newcomer on Utah’s women’s tennis team this season. She previously played at Eastern Washington in the 2018-19 season. In her first tournament as a Ute, Lamoreaux went undefeated in four bouts, knocking off competitors from FAU, Georgia State and Miami. Last season, Lamoreaux was named the Big Sky Freshman of the Year and added First-Team Big Sky Singles and Doubles honors to her trophy case. Her twin sister Anya is also her teammate at the U.
Mia Smith is a name to watch out for as you watch the San Diego State Aztecs this weekend. Smith is from Tunbridge Wells, England and is the lone senior on the team this season. Abbie Mulbarger is another Aztec to keep your eye on this weekend. Last season, Mulbarger went 16-9 in singles and 4-6 in doubles, competing in all three preseason tournaments for San Diego State.
This weekend’s matchup will take place at the Aztec Tennis Center and should provide better weather than last weekend’s invitational. Temperatures will range from the low 60s to the mid-70s, providing exquisite playing conditions for the players. The Aztec Tennis Center is a newer facility first opening in 2005. It includes a plexicushion surface which should give the tennis balls a true bounce on each serve. It also promises to keep the players legs fresher for longer due to the cushion material playing surface.
The Utes and the Aztecs will face off in the San Diego State Fall Classic on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 at the Aztec Tennis Center in San Diego, California.
