Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Colorado State Invite on September 12, 2025
Women's Tennis
at Colorado State Invite
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Wednesday, April 16
Waco, TX
2:30 PM (MT)
University of Utah
vs
Cincinnati
Photo by: Keller Nienau/Utah Athletics
No. 12 Seed Utah to Take on No. 13 Seed Cincinnati in Big 12 Tournament
4/14/2025 11:19 AM | Women's Tennis
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah women's tennis team is set to open postseason play at the Big 12 Championships in Waco, Texas, beginning with a first-round matchup against 13th-seeded Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 16, at 2 p.m. MT.
MATCH INFORMATION
Utah (8-14) vs. Cincinnati (10-12)
DATE | TIME: Wednesday, April 16 | 2 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Waco, TX | Hurd Tennis Center
LIVE STATS: Click Here
WATCH: ESPN+
TWITTER UPDATES: @UteWomensTennis
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati enters the tournament with a 10-12 overall record and a 2-11 mark in Big 12 play. The Utes hold a 2-1 edge in the all-time series, but the Bearcats claimed the most recent meeting with a 4-2 win earlier this season (3/22/25).
THE UTES
The Utah women's tennis program competes this season with a roster featuring a core group of returning players blended with new talent. Returning to the team are sophomores Sara Akid and Emma Kamper, junior Kaila Barksdale, and senior Samantha Horwood, all of whom contributed significantly during the 2024 season. Joining the squad this season are two transfers in Dylan Lolofie, a Salt Lake City native from Weber State, and Emma Valletta from Ravena, Italy, previously at VCU. This spring, the team additionally welcomed freshman Hayley Roberts from Bradenton, Florida.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah closed out the regular season with a 4-0 victory over Houston before falling 4-1 to No. 20 UCF on Saturday.
The Utes secured the doubles point against UCF with wins on courts one and three. Sara Akid and Emma Valletta earned a 6-4 victory over UCF's No. 22-ranked duo at the top spot, while Samantha Horwood and Dylan Lolofie clinched the point with a 7-6(3) tiebreak win on court three.
In singles, Utah couldn't maintain the momentum. UCF responded with straight-set victories on courts one, five, and six, and clinched the match on court four, while matches on courts two and three were left unfinished.
HEAD COACH RUTH ANN ALLEN
The Utah women's tennis team welcomed Ruth Ann Allen as head coach this season. A Utah native and a Utah All-American and Hall of Famer, Allen returns to lead the program after a successful tenure as head coach at Weber State. She guided the Wildcats to a Big Sky Championship in 2023 and was twice named Big Sky Coach of the Year (2022, 2023).
Before Weber State, Allen spent 20 seasons as an assistant coach at Utah, where she helped the Utes secure multiple NCAA Tournament bids, two Mountain West Conference titles, and numerous top-five regional rankings. Allen, an All-American during her playing career at Utah, was inducted into the Utah Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2023.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow us on social media (Twitter: @UteWomensTennis | Instagram: @UtahWomensTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwomenstennis).
MATCH INFORMATION
Utah (8-14) vs. Cincinnati (10-12)
DATE | TIME: Wednesday, April 16 | 2 p.m. MT
LOCATION: Waco, TX | Hurd Tennis Center
LIVE STATS: Click Here
WATCH: ESPN+
TWITTER UPDATES: @UteWomensTennis
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati enters the tournament with a 10-12 overall record and a 2-11 mark in Big 12 play. The Utes hold a 2-1 edge in the all-time series, but the Bearcats claimed the most recent meeting with a 4-2 win earlier this season (3/22/25).
THE UTES
The Utah women's tennis program competes this season with a roster featuring a core group of returning players blended with new talent. Returning to the team are sophomores Sara Akid and Emma Kamper, junior Kaila Barksdale, and senior Samantha Horwood, all of whom contributed significantly during the 2024 season. Joining the squad this season are two transfers in Dylan Lolofie, a Salt Lake City native from Weber State, and Emma Valletta from Ravena, Italy, previously at VCU. This spring, the team additionally welcomed freshman Hayley Roberts from Bradenton, Florida.
LAST TIME OUT
Utah closed out the regular season with a 4-0 victory over Houston before falling 4-1 to No. 20 UCF on Saturday.
The Utes secured the doubles point against UCF with wins on courts one and three. Sara Akid and Emma Valletta earned a 6-4 victory over UCF's No. 22-ranked duo at the top spot, while Samantha Horwood and Dylan Lolofie clinched the point with a 7-6(3) tiebreak win on court three.
In singles, Utah couldn't maintain the momentum. UCF responded with straight-set victories on courts one, five, and six, and clinched the match on court four, while matches on courts two and three were left unfinished.
HEAD COACH RUTH ANN ALLEN
The Utah women's tennis team welcomed Ruth Ann Allen as head coach this season. A Utah native and a Utah All-American and Hall of Famer, Allen returns to lead the program after a successful tenure as head coach at Weber State. She guided the Wildcats to a Big Sky Championship in 2023 and was twice named Big Sky Coach of the Year (2022, 2023).
Before Weber State, Allen spent 20 seasons as an assistant coach at Utah, where she helped the Utes secure multiple NCAA Tournament bids, two Mountain West Conference titles, and numerous top-five regional rankings. Allen, an All-American during her playing career at Utah, was inducted into the Utah Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 2023.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Fans can follow us on social media (Twitter: @UteWomensTennis | Instagram: @UtahWomensTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utahwomenstennis).
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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