Utes Have Strong Start At BYU Invitational

Thursday, September 18

Provo, Utah

All Day

University of Utah

BYU Invitational

9/18/2008 12:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Sept. 18, 2008

PROVO, Utah - Newcomer Anastasia Putilina led Utah on the first day of play at the BYU Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 18, as several players posted strong wins in singles and doubles to advance in their brackets.

In the Singles `A' bracket, three players will advance to the quarterfinals held on Friday. No. 2 seed Putilina won over Air Force's Sarah Cassman in the round of 32, 6-1, 6-1. In the round of 16 she topped BYU's Elle Carney 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. She will play Colorado State's Laura Neal in the quarterfinals.

Junior Andrea Maughan won against Weber State's Karlie Hancock 6-4, 6-2, in the round of 32 and Colorado State's Caitlin Fluegge 6-4, 6-4 in the round of 16. Maughan takes on No. 1 seed Christina Doerr of BYU on Friday.

In the round of 32, Leigh Walsh defeated Keya Adamsom from Weber State 6-0, 6-1. In the round of 16 Walsh faced the No. 6 seed from BSU, Klaudia Wlodarczyk. Walsh took the three set match 7-7, 6-7, 6-4. She faces third-seeded McCall Jones of BYU in the quarterfinals.

Others who competed in the `A' singles bracket include Karine Bourdages and Erin Monson. Monson beat Weber State's Farias Greyce, 6-2, 6-0, before falling to Boise State's Lauren Megale in a close three sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

In the Singles `B' Bracket two Ute freshmen will move into the semifinal competition. Lisa Johnson smashed Utah State's Marie Livingston in the round of 16, 6-4, 6-0. In the quarterfinals Johnson again dominated, beating Greer Satherlie from CSU 6-1, 6-4. Julie Tukuafu recieved a bye in the round of 16 and then took on Kirsten Stople from Colorado State, beating her 6-4, 6-2.

Dee Dee Nelson also competed in the `B' bracket, defeating Lori Gallup of Weber State 6-2, 6-2, before falling to Colorado State's Tori Arneson, 6-1, 6-3.

The No. 3 seeded doubles team of Putilina and Erin Monson along with the team of Tukuafu and Maughan will move into the quarterfinals held on Friday. Putilina and Monson received a bye in the round of 32 and the proceeded to smash the team of Greyce Farias and Karlie Hancock from Weber State 8-1 in the round of 16. Tukuafu and Maughan beat out Bridgette Strickland and Hailey Swenson from Utah State, 8-5, in the round of 16 after also receiving a bye in the round of 32.

"The day went really well, we had a lot of very good matches," stated head coach Mat Iandolo. "It is a good testament to our team to do this well without two of our key players. It feels good to have this kind of start and tomorrow is a big day with really good matches against BYU."