USU tennis: Utah State women's tennis open season at BYU Invitational

After the first day of play in the BYU Invitational, Utah State has two players left in singles competition and one pair in doubles.

In singles play, sophomore McKenzie Davis won her second-round match against Jessica Parizher of Wyoming (6-2, 6-0), after an automatic advance in the first round. Freshman Amber Stuhlmann also had an automatic advance from the first round and then defeated Megan Rindlisbacher of Weber State (6-1, 7-5).

Senior Julie Tukuafu defeated Weber State's Nittava Phonharath in the first round (6-1, 6-3) but fell to Veronica Popovici of Wyoming (4-6, 6-3, 6-3). Senior Jaci West withdrew from the first round of singles play. After three sets, senior Kristina Voytsekhovich defeated Manuela Piezuch of Boise State in the first round (2-6, 6-2, 6-4) then fell to BYU's Meghan Sheehan-Dizon (6-2, 6-1). Freshman Ashley Stuhlmann defeated Carly Lloyd of Weber State in the first round (6-1, 6-0) and then fell to Wyoming's Christa Gecheva (6-1, 6-4). Sophomore Hillary Hays was defeated in the first round by Titi Espinosa of Wyoming (6-4, 6-2).

Each Aggie duo automatically advanced to the second round of doubles action after drawing byes for the first round. West and Davis defeated Espinosa and Gecheva (8-5), leaving them as the only Aggie pair left in the main draw. Hays and Ashley Stuhlmann fell to Popovici and Synkova (8-2), while Tukuafu and Amber Stuhlmann were taken down by Phonharath and Warwick (8-4). Sperry and Voytsekhovich wrapped up the action, falling to Wyoming's Parizher and Zhelyazkova (8-5).

The Aggie women will continue action from Provo tomorrow in both singles and doubles play, as well as seeing action in the consolation bracket of the tournament.

BYU INVITATIONAL RESULTS - DAY 1

Blue Draw Singles Round of 32

Julie Tukuafu (USU) def. Nittava Phonharath (WSU) 6-1, 6-3 Kallie Sperry (USU) def. Sasa Nemcova (WYO) 6-4, 6-2 McKenzie Davis BYE Kristi Elmer (WSU) def. Jaci West (USU) withdrew Kristina Voytsekovich (USU) def. Manueal Pietzuch (BSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4

Round of 16

Veronica Popovici (WYO) def. Julie Tukuafu (USU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Morgan Anderson (BYU) def. Kallie Sperry (USU) 7-5, 6-1 McKenzie Davis (USU) def. Jessica Parizher (WYO) 6-2, 6-0 Meghan Sheehan-Dizon (BYU) def. Kristina Voytsekovich (USU) 6-2, 6-1

White Draw Singles Round of 16

Ashley Stuhlmann (USU) def. Carly Lloyd (WSU) 6-1, 6-0 Amber Stuhlmann (USU) BYE Titi Espinosa (WYO) def. Hillary Hays (USU) 6-4, 6-2

Quarterfinals Christa Gecheva (WYO) def. Ashley Stuhlmann 6-1, 6-4 Amber Stuhlmann (USU) def. Megan Rindlisbacher (WSU) 6-1, 7-5

DOUBLES Round of 32 Hays/As. Stuhlmann (USU) def. Lloyd/Rindlisbacher (WSU) withdrew Am. Stuhlmann/Tukuafu (USU) BYE Davis/West BYE Sperry/Voytsekhovich BYE

Round of 16 Popovici/Synkova (WYO) def. Hays/As. Stuhlmann (USU) 8-2 Phonharath/Warwick (WSU) def. Am. Stuhlmann/Tukuafu (USU) 8-4 Davis/West (USU) def. Espinosa/Gecheva (WYO) 8-5 Parizher/Zhelyazkova (WYO) def. Sperry/Voytsekovich (USU) 8-5

Doug Hoffman is the assistant athletic director for Utah State University Athletic Media Relations.