DENVER – The University of Denver No. 59 women's tennis team defeated No. 54 Utah 4-3 on Friday at Gates Tennis Center. The win puts the Pioneers at 16-3 overall going into the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) tournament.

The Pioneers fell in two of three doubles matches to trail 1-0 going into singles play.

Senior Sophia Bergner (Schechen, Germany) defeated Utah's Tereza Bekarova 7-6 (5), 6-1 in No. 1 singles. Sophomore Mandy van den Eerenbeemt (Best, Netherlands) beat Natasha Smith 6-4, 6-4 in No. 4 singles. Freshman Kathryn Hughes (Wrexham, Wales) claimed a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Lucia Kovarcikova. Senior Steffi Rath (Höchst, Austria) defeated Paige Miles 7-5, 6-2 to help the Pioneers beat Utah, 4-3.

The Pioneers' next challenge will be the WAC tournament, which begins on Thursday, April 25 and continues until Saturday, April 27. The tournament will take place at Gate Tennis Center.

 

Singles

1. Sophia Bergner (DEN) def. Tereza Bekarova (UTAH), 7-6 (5), 6-1

2. Sarah Pham (UTAH) def. Caroline Schnell (DEN), 6-2, 6-1

3. Callie Craig (UTAH) def. Emma Isberg (DEN), 2-6, 7-5, 7-5

4. Mandy van den Eerenbeemt (DEN) def. Natasha Smith (UTAH), 6-4, 6-4

5. Kathryn Hughes (DEN) def. Lucia Kovarcikova (UTAH), 6-3, 2-6, 7-5

6. Steffi Rath (DEN) def. Paige Miles (UTAH), 7-5, 6-2

Doubles

1. Bekarova/Miles (UTAH) def. Bergner/Rath (DEN), 8-2

2. Isberg/Vandeneerenbeemt (DEN) vs. Najara-Salas/Smith (UTAH), DNF 5-4.

3. Pham/Craig (UTAH) def. Schnell/Hughes (DEN), 8-5

 

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of DU's NCAA Division I sports.

 

-EXPERIENCE DENVER ATHLETICS

 

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