The University of Utah women's tennis team closed out their final day at the ITA Kickoff in Chapel Hill, NC. Utah went head-to-head with the Maryland Terrapins and lost 4-2.

"Definitely not the way we were hoping to finish off this trip," head coach Ric Mortera said. "There were certainly some bright spots with Sam (Horwood) and Marcela (Lopez) taking care of their matches with solid outings. Kaila (Barksdale) battled back to push hers into a deciding set before the match ended. However, it was not the level we expect from our group overall. I am very much looking forward to how our leaders respond and how we will collectively ikmprove from this weekend."

In doubles, Samantha Horwood and Katya Townsend finished first against Maryland team, Marta Perez Mur and Minorka Miranda. They were defeated 6-2. Marcela Lopez and Katya Hersh lost to Terrapins, Jojo Bach and Hannah McColgan, 6-3. Anastasia Goncharova and Madison Tattini were leading in their match, but it was left unfinished.

Townsend took on Selma Cedar in singles and lost, 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot. Tattini was defeated by Miranda, 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 2 singles. In the No. 5 spot, Lopez earned Utah its first point of the day against Francesca Feodorov, 7(7)-6(2), 6-1. Following closely behind her, Horwood claimed victory against McColgan with matching set scores of 6-3 at the No. 6 spot. Goncharova was narrowly defeated by Kallista Liu, 6-2, 7(7)-6(5) in the No. 4. Kaila Barksdale's match was left unfinished in the third set at the No. 3 spot. 

NEXT UP
Utah women's tennis is coming home to host a double header on Saturday, Feb 4 against Cincinnati and Montana.