Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Senior Lisa Küng posted a straight-sets win in singles play to help 10th-seeded Utah State (5-16, 1-9 MW) post a 4-2 win against seventh-seeded Fresno State (10-13, 4-6 MW) in the first round of the Mountain West Championships held here on Tuesday.
 
Küng, who has battled through injuries all year, posted her first singles win of the spring season with a straight-sets victory at the No. 2 spot (6-1, 7-5).
 
For Utah State, it is its first victory in the MW Championships since posting a 4-3 win against 10th-seeded Boise State in the opening round of the tournament in 2019. Overall, it is the sixth time that USU has advanced to the quarterfinals of the MW Championships in its 12 years in the league.
 
Utah State started the match by earning the doubles point as freshmen Niyati Kukreti and Magdalena Nunez Pureco posted a 6-1 win at the third position, while Küng and freshman Ana Paula Chavez Sanchez posted a 6-4 win at the second position.
 
In singles play, the Bulldogs tied the match at 1-1 after notching a straight sets win against Kukreti at the No. 3 spot (6-1, 6-2). Fresno State then took a 2-1 lead following a straight sets win over Pureco at the No. 4 spot (6-2, 6-4).
 
Junior Indya Nespor kept the Aggies in the match by tying the score at 2-2 with her win at the No. 5 spot in straight sets (6-3, 6-1). Graduate senior Zeynep Naz Ozturk then gave USU a 3-2 lead as she won her match at the No. 1 spot in straight sets (6-3, 6-4). And Küng cliched the match for the Aggies with her straight sets win at the No. 2 spot (6-1, 7-5).
 
Sanchez's match at No. 6 singles remained unfinished at one set apiece.
 
Utah State will continue its run in the MW Championships tomorrow as it faces second-seeded San Diego State (13-6, 7-2 MW) at 11 a.m. (MT). The two teams played one another earlier this season in Logan with the Aztecs posting a 4-2 win.
 
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.
 
Utah State vs Fresno State 
April 24, 2024
Darling Tennis Center
Las Vegas, Nevada 
 
RESULTS
Utah State 4, Fresno State 2
 
Doubles
1. Zeynep Naz Ozturk/Laura Fernanda Eugenio De Hilario (USU) vs. Misaki Kobeyeshi/Matilde Magrini (FSU) 5-5, unfinished  
2. Lisa Küng/Ana Paula Chavez Sanchez (USU) def. Eliza Dunbar/Carolina Piferi (FSU) 6-4
3. Magdalena Nunez Pureco/Niyati Kukreti (USU) def. Charlotte Gisclon/Mariia Vyshkina (FSU) 6-1
 
Singles
1. Zeynep Naz Ozturk (USU) def. Matilde Magrini (FSU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Lisa Kung (USU) def. Misaki Kobeyeshi (FSU) 6-1, 7-5
3. Carolina Piferi (FSU) def. Niyaki Kukreti (USU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Charlotte Gisclon (FSU) def. Magdalena Nunez Pureco (USU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Indya Nespor (USU) def. Mariia Vyshkina (FSU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Ana Paula Chavez Sanchez (USU) vs. Hannah Pieper (FSU) 2-6, 6-4, 0-0, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (3,4,5,1,2)
Utah State (5-16, 1-9 MW)
Fresno State (10-13, 4-6 MW)
 
-USU-