SALT LAKE CITY, Utah The No. 39 Pioneers defeated their second ranked opponent of the weekend on the road at Utah. Denver downed No. 66 Utah 4-3 to improve to a nine-game winning streak.

 

Denver picked up only one doubles win, losing the doubles point for the first time this season. Kyla Iwinski (Marietta, Georgia) and Bhavani Tirumurti (Jakarta, Indonesia) fell to Leigh Walsh and Evgenia Kryuchkova 8-3 at No. 2. Mallory Voelker (Dosuman, Wis.) and Julia Bauregger (Klugenfurt, Austria) picked up the only doubles victory for the Pioneers over No. 41 Elizabeth Ferris and Emily Kwok 8-6 at No. 1. With the doubles competition tied a one each, the quest for the doubles point came down to Annette Aksdal (Oslo, Norway) and Kaja Smole (Ljubljana, Slovenia). The duo had Andrea Maughan and Erin Monson at match-point twice but were unable to pull out the victory, falling 9-7 at No. 3.

 

Down 1-0 for the first time this season, the Pioneers pulled out four singles victories to propel themselves to victory. Tirumurti fell to Monson 6-0, 6-3 at No. 4 and Bauregger put Denver on the scoreboard with her win over Kowk 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3. Voelker defeated No. 44 Ferris 6-4, 7-6 at No. 1 and Smole fell to Walsh 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 at No. 4. Aksdal edged Kryuchkova 7-5, 6-3 at No. 2 to set the score at 3-3. Iwinski edged Karine Bourdages 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 to clinch the Pioneers ninth win of the season. Ute Schnoy (Altenstadt, Germany) was unable to compete in the match due to a sprained ankle.

 

When this team has to face pressure and adversity we just throw our physical and mental toughness right back,” said Iwiniski. “Vamos Pios!"

 

Voelker, Bauregger, and Aksdal all improve to 9-0 in singles. Voelker and Baureggrer paired to defeat two ranked doubles opponents during the weekend road trip.

 

Denver returns home for a single match against Texas-El Paso on Saturday, March 1. The match will be held at the Stapleton Tennis Pavillion at 2:00 p.m.