(St. George - Jan. 19, 2026) – Utah Tech women's tennis came up short in a 4-3 thriller against Utah State on Monday at Trailblazer Tennis Courts. Freshmen Cameron Hendrix and Ilse Fernanda Elechiguerra Ortega each picked up their first career singles wins.

Utah State (1-0, 0-0 MW) claimed the doubles point with wins in the second and third doubles, 6-3 and 6-1, respectively. Juniors Mariana Zurita Berdecio and Ana Gutierrez Sampere were tied with USU's Olivia Halvorsen and Natalie Paterova, 5-5, when first doubles was left unfinished.

Utah Tech (0-3, 0-0 WAC) earned its first point at No. 6 singles. Elechiguerra Ortega clinched her first career singles victory, dispatching USU's Kylee Sperry with a come-from-behind win, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Hendrix also logged her first-career singles victory, outlasting USU's Magdalena Nunez Pureco, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, at No. 5 singles. 

Gutierrez Sampere notched her first singles win of the season in a marathon match at No. 3 singles, besting Paterova, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.

Junior Olivia Bustos took the first set at No. 2 singles, 7-5, before falling to USU's Sabina Pintea in the second and third sets, 6-0, 6-2.

The Trailblazers return to action on Friday, Jan. 23, as they hit the road to visit in-state foe Weber State for UT's first away match this season. Doubles play is set for 11:30 a.m. at the Ogden Athletic Club in Ogden, Utah.

Match Results
Utah State 4, Utah Tech 3
Jan. 19, 2026, at Trailblazer Tennis Courts (St. George, Utah)

Doubles Competition
1. Ana Gutierrez Sampere/Mariana Zurita Berdecio (UT) vs. Olivia Halvorsen/Natalie Paterova (USU) 5-5, unfinished
2. Terezia Mlkva/Sabina Pintea (USU) def. Nutsa Tsintsadze/Cameron Hendrix (UT) 6-3
3. Maria Paula Ramos Garcia/Chahd Tourkhani (USU) def. Olivia Bustos/Ilse Fernanda Elechiguerra Ortega (UT) 6-1

Singles Competition
1. Terezia Mlkva (USU) def. Mariana Zurita Berdecio (UT) 6-4, 6-4
2. Sabina Pintea (USU) def. Olivia Bustos (UT) 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
3. Ana Gutierrez Sampere (UT) def. Natalie Paterova (USU) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
4. Chahd Tourkhani (USU) def. Nutsa Tsintsadze (UT) 6-3, 6-2
5. Cameron Hendrix (UT) def. Magdalena Nunez Pureco (USU) 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
6. Ilse Fernanda Elechiguerra Ortega (UT) def. Kylee Sperry (USU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2

Match Notes:
Utah Tech (0-3, 0-0 WAC)
Utah State (1-0, 0-0 MW)