(Logan, Utah - Jan. 25, 2025) - Utah Tech women's tennis was tripped up at Utah State 6-1 on Saturday inside the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.

"The girls played hard and competed well," head coach Eric Pelton said. "It was exciting to see them put strong points together."

Sophomore Mariana Zurita picked up her first singles win of the season in a neck-and-neck thriller with USU's Ana Sabikova in the number two singles spot. Zurita pulled out both sets 7-5, closing each set with an extra game.

"Mariana got a strong win at number two singles," Pelton said. "It was great to see her execute her game plan and close out a big win."

Fellow sophomore Olivia Bustos made for a tough challenge in the number four singles spot. Utah State's Olivia Halvorsen came out with a close win 7-6, 6-4.

In the second doubles match, Bustos and sophomore Ana Gutierrez Sampere were tied 5-5 with Aggie pair Indya Nespor and Cielo Tapia-Cruz when the match went unfinished. 

Senior Laura Coulome and freshman Nutsa Tsintsadze came up short in a competitive match with USU's Natalie Paterova and Sabikova with a final score of 7-5 in the third doubles match.

"The girls came out really strong with some great energy," Pelton said about doubles play. "We had our chances but couldn't get the win."

The Trailblazers return to action tomorrow with a three-match slate in Las Vegas, Nevada, starting on Valentine's Day with a neutral-site contest against Idaho State at 11 a.m. (MT) on Friday, Feb. 14, at the Fertitta Tennis Complex. 

Results
Utah State 6, Utah Tech 1
Jan. 25, 2025, at Sports Academy & Racquet Club (Logan, Utah)

Doubles Competition
1. Olivia Halvorsen/Maria Ramos Garcia (USU) def. Maya Inouye/Mariana Zurita (UT) 6-1
2. Olivia Bustos/Ana Gutierrez Sampere (UT) vs. Indya Nespor/Cielo Tapia-Cruz (USU) 5-5, unfinished
3. Natalie Paterova/Ana Sabikova (USU) def. Laura Coulome/Nutsa Tsintsadze (UT) 7-5

Singles Competition
1. Indya Nespor (USU) def. Ana Gutierrez Sampere (UT) 6-1, 6-0
2. Mariana Zurita (UT) def. Ana Sabikova (USU) 7-5, 7-5
3. Maria Ramos Garcia (USU) def. Nutsa Tsintsadze (UT) 6-1, 6-0
4. Olivia Halvorsen (USU) def. Olivia Bustos (UT) 7-6, 6-4
5. Niyati Kukreti (USU) def. Maya Inouye (UT) 6-2, 6-4
6. Natalie Paterova (USU) def. Laura Coulome (UT) 6-3, 6-0

Match Notes:
Utah Tech (0-4, 0-0 WAC)
Utah State (1-0, 0-0 MW)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,3,4,2,6,5)