(Surprise, Az. - Mar. 10, 2026) – Utah Tech women's tennis returns to action this week with a three match roadtrip, starting on Wednesday against Ottawa University (Az) in Surprise, Arizona at 2 p.m.. The Trailblazers will finish their "Grand Canyon State" road swing on Friday, Mar. 13 at 10 a.m. with a double header versus Mesa Community College. 

Who | Utah Tech (5-10, 0-0 WAC) vs. Ottawa University (Az) (1-6, 1-0 GSAC)
When | Wednesday, Mar. 11 - 2 p.m. (MT)
Where | Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex - Surprise, AZ
Social Media | Instagram + X (Twitter)

Who | Utah Tech (5-10, 0-0 WAC) vs Mesa CC (2-3, 2-0 ACCAC) 
When | Friday, Mar. 13 - 10 a.m. (MT) (Double Header)
Where | Mesa CC Tennis Courts - Mesa, AZ
Social Media | Instagram + X (Twitter)


A GLANCE AT OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ)
The Ottawa University (Az) Spirit will come in well rested, not having played since February 27, where they got their first win of the season against Arizona Christian 4-3. The win also kicked off conference play for the Spirit. Junior Martina Antich leads Ottawa with three total wins in singles matches, and Michelle Pugh and Antich have teamed up for the program's only duos wins of the season.   

A GLANCE AT MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Mesa Community College Thunderbirds enter the double header on Friday coming off a loss against the team UT will face Wednesday in Ottawa University (Az), 7-2. The Thunderbirds are undefeated in conference play, most recently collecting a win against Glendale Community College. Kirsten Neilson boasts a team best 6-2 singles record, while Mikaela Correa and Jackelin Almada-Lopez pair up for a team leading four doubles victories. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Trailblazers were defeated at home on Monday, Mar. 9 by the University of Utah 6-1. Utah Tech battled in singles play after the Utes took the doubles point handily, but ultimately fell short. 

MEET THE TRAILBLAZERS
Utah Tech returns seven letter winners from last year's squad, including sophomore Maya Inouye, a 2024-25 Second Team All-WAC selection. She led the Trailblazers with 10 singles wins, logging a 10-6 record during the dual season and setting the UT Division I-era record for single-season wins. Inouye is the Trailblazers' first-ever All-WAC singles honoree and the first Trailblazer to reach 10 wins since Yolena Carlon went 10-7 in 2018. 

The Trailblazers' two newcomers are freshmen Cameron Hendrix and Ilse Fernanda Elechiguerra Ortega. Seeing action in two tournaments last fall, Hendrix won the Bengal draw with doubles partner senior Nicole Kells at the Idaho State Invitational, and went 2-1 in singles play at the UNLV Watanabe Classic. Out of La Ceiba, Mexico, Elechiguerra Ortega joined the team in time for this spring semester.

Head coach Eric Pelton is in his 20th season at the helm of Utah Tech women's tennis. He has totaled 111 wins at UT and winning seasons in 2014 (12-9), 2017 (9-8), 2019 (13-4) and 2020 (6-3). Pelton has mentored 10 all-conference selections, including Inouye.

2025 IN REVIEW
UT posted its best Division I-era record in 2025, going 7-13 with wins over Colorado Mesa, the College of Idaho, Mesa CC, Montana, UT Dallas and Weber State. Five of those victories were 7-0 sweeps. Utah Tech's season ended in the first round of the WAC Tennis Championships with a 4-0 loss to UT Arlington.

BIG SKY ON THE HORIZON
Utah Tech is in its last year of competition as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The Trailblazers will join the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2026. UT will keep the conference at nine women's tennis programs, joining Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Portland State and Weber State. Sacramento State departs for the Big West after this season.

UP NEXT
Utah Tech will head back home for a pair of matches on March 27-28, versus Tarleton State and Montana. Montana will also face Tarleton State in a neutral site match on March 28.