TEMPE – No. 23 Sun Devil Women's Tennis (6-3,1-0 Big 12) won their first match in Big 12 conference play in a 4-2 victory over Utah (5-4, 0-1 Big 12) at the Whiteman Tennis Center. It was the teams first match at home in 26 days since defeating No. 15 Pepperdine. Freshman Aiya Nupbay appeared in her first career singles match winning in three sets, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, and clinched the win for ASU Thursday evening.
The Sun Devils got off to a fast start in doubles action. The partnerships of Patricija Spaka and Lily Taylor alongside Karin Altori and Sara Svetac both went up 3-0 in their matches. Altori and Svetac comfortably claimed the win 6-1, which gave Spaka and Taylor a chance to clinch the doubles point. While the Utes put up a fight, however Spaka and Taylor pulled away with a 6-3 victory to capture the 1-0 lead in the match.
Just like in doubles, ASU started out hot in singles. Sara Svetac took care of business by securing the second point in straight sets. This was followed by Emilija Tverijonaite who rallied from one set down to grab another point after forcing a third set, winning the second-set 7-5. She made quick work in her third set to win the third point for the Sun Devis. Utah made things interesting by taking back two wins. However, it wasn't enough to mount a comeback against the Sun Devils, as Nupbay clinched the victory in three hard fought sets.
The team returns to Whiteman Tennis Center this Saturday hosting No. 52 BYU, who will aim to rebound after coming off a defeat against Arizona earlier today.
Doubles Results
Patricija Spaka/Lily Taylor (ASU) def. Emma Kamper/Hayley Roberts (Utah) - 6-3
Karin Altori/Sara Svetac (ASU) def. Kaila Barksale/Sara Akid (Utah) - 6-1
Tverijonaite/Aiya Nupbay (ASU) vs. Dylan Lolofie/Samantha Horwood (Utah) - 3-5 (unfinished)
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3*
Singles Results
1. #40 Sara Svetac (ASU) vs. Emma Kamper (Utah) - 6-1, 6-2
2. #34 Emilija Tverijonaite (ASU) def. Kaila Barksdale (Utah) - 1-6, 7-5, 6-2
3. Sara Akid (Utah) def. Lily Taylor (ASU) - 7-6, 2-6, 6-3
6. Hayley Roberts (Utah) def. Karin Altori (ASU) - 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
7. Karsyn Evans (ASU) vs. Dylan Lolofie (Utah) - 6-2, 5-7, 5-2 unfinished
8. Aiya Nupbay (ASU) def. Samantha Horwood (Utah) - 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 6, 3, 2, 8, 7*
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Sun Devils continue Big 12 conference play by traveling to the Midwest with a showdown with No. 42 Kansas on March 7th at 3 p.m. MST in Lawrence, KS and then head to Ames, Iowa with a match against No. 54 Iowa State at 9 a.m. AZT.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
Continue to follow Sun Devil Women's Tennis on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest coverage this season. Fans can follow on live stats which can be found here.
The Sun Devils got off to a fast start in doubles action. The partnerships of Patricija Spaka and Lily Taylor alongside Karin Altori and Sara Svetac both went up 3-0 in their matches. Altori and Svetac comfortably claimed the win 6-1, which gave Spaka and Taylor a chance to clinch the doubles point. While the Utes put up a fight, however Spaka and Taylor pulled away with a 6-3 victory to capture the 1-0 lead in the match.
Just like in doubles, ASU started out hot in singles. Sara Svetac took care of business by securing the second point in straight sets. This was followed by Emilija Tverijonaite who rallied from one set down to grab another point after forcing a third set, winning the second-set 7-5. She made quick work in her third set to win the third point for the Sun Devis. Utah made things interesting by taking back two wins. However, it wasn't enough to mount a comeback against the Sun Devils, as Nupbay clinched the victory in three hard fought sets.
The team returns to Whiteman Tennis Center this Saturday hosting No. 52 BYU, who will aim to rebound after coming off a defeat against Arizona earlier today.
Doubles Results
Patricija Spaka/Lily Taylor (ASU) def. Emma Kamper/Hayley Roberts (Utah) - 6-3
Karin Altori/Sara Svetac (ASU) def. Kaila Barksale/Sara Akid (Utah) - 6-1
Tverijonaite/Aiya Nupbay (ASU) vs. Dylan Lolofie/Samantha Horwood (Utah) - 3-5 (unfinished)
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3*
Singles Results
1. #40 Sara Svetac (ASU) vs. Emma Kamper (Utah) - 6-1, 6-2
2. #34 Emilija Tverijonaite (ASU) def. Kaila Barksdale (Utah) - 1-6, 7-5, 6-2
3. Sara Akid (Utah) def. Lily Taylor (ASU) - 7-6, 2-6, 6-3
6. Hayley Roberts (Utah) def. Karin Altori (ASU) - 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
7. Karsyn Evans (ASU) vs. Dylan Lolofie (Utah) - 6-2, 5-7, 5-2 unfinished
8. Aiya Nupbay (ASU) def. Samantha Horwood (Utah) - 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 6, 3, 2, 8, 7*
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Sun Devils continue Big 12 conference play by traveling to the Midwest with a showdown with No. 42 Kansas on March 7th at 3 p.m. MST in Lawrence, KS and then head to Ames, Iowa with a match against No. 54 Iowa State at 9 a.m. AZT.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
Continue to follow Sun Devil Women's Tennis on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest coverage this season. Fans can follow on live stats which can be found here.