TUCSON, Arizona — Utah State women's tennis lost to No. 6-seeded Wyoming, 4-2, in the first round of the Mountain West Championships on Wednesday. The Aggies finish the season with a 6-14 record and a 1-10 mark against MW opponents.

In doubles play, senior Annaliese County and junior Carolina Millan combined for a 6-2 win at the third position. At the No. 2s, senior Gabrielle Dekkers and junior Sidnee Lavatai rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the match at 5-5 but was unable to clinch the doubles point for USU as Wyoming took the early 1-0 lead.

Junior Naz Ozturk put the Aggies on the board in singles play with a win at the fifth position, 6-3, 6-2. After a win at the fourth position again put the Cowgirls in front, junior Zara Ryan then tied the match at 2-2 with a victory by retirement at the third position. Ryan led, 7-6 (6), 5-2, at the time of retirement. Wyoming wins at the second and sixth positions then clinched the match. At the No. 1s, Millan was ahead in a decisive third set at the time of clinch, 1-6, 6-3, 4-3.

It is USU's second consecutive season being eliminated from the MW Championships by Wyoming after suffering a 4-3 loss to the Cowgirls in 2021. 

Millan led the Aggies in 2022 with 36 total wins across the fall tournament and dual match seasons, ranking 15th all-time in a single season at USU. Millan was joined on the leaderboard by senior Annaliese County, whose 31 total combined wins rank 28th all-time for the Aggies. Sophomore Lisa Küng ranks 48th in the all-time single season rankings with 26 combined wins while senior Gabrielle Dekkers ranks 57th with 24 combined wins. Junior Zeynep Naz Ozturk's tally of 22 combined wins ranks 65th all-time at USU.

Fans can follow USU's women's tennis team on Twitter @USUWomensTennis, on Facebook at /UtahStateWomensTennis or on Instagram at USUWomensTennis.  Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

RESULTS
Utah State 2, Wyoming 4
El Conquistador Tucson
Tucson, Arizona

Doubles
1. Ida Krause/Maria Oreshkina (WYO) def. Lisa Küng/Zeynep Naz Ozturk (USU) 6-2
2. Ana Fernandez/Sophie Zehender (WYO) def. Gabrielle Dekkers/Sidnee Lavatai (USU) 7-5
3. Carolina Millan/Annaliese County (USU) def. Mihaela Kaftanova/Lucia Malinak (WYO) 6-2

Singles
1. Millan (USU) vs. Oreshkina (WYO) 1-6, 6-3, 4-3, unfinished
2. Zehender (WYO) def. Küng (USU) 6-4, 7-5
3. Zara Ryan (USU) def. Malinak (WYO) 7-6 (6), 5-2, retired
4. Krause (WYO) def. County (USU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Naz Ozturk (USU) def. Fernandez (WYO) 6-3, 6-2
6. Kaftanova (WYO) def. Dekkers (USU) 7-6 (6), 6-4

Match Notes
Wyoming: 10-8 (5-5 Mountain West)
Utah State: 6-14 (1-9 Mountain West)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,4,3,2,6)

- USU -