TUCSON, Ariz. - Arizona (9-4) lost its first conference and home match of the season with a 4-3 loss to Utah (4-2) in Tucson on Saturday, Mar. 11.

"I'm disappointed with the loss," said head coach Vicky Maes. "We knew Utah was going to be a tough team. Unfortunately, in the doubles we were doing so well at No. 2 but we let them back into the match. At the same time, No. 1 was coming back. You never know what could've happened if No. 2 held their ground. I felt like No. 1 had the momentum and was going to pull it out. I don't like losing the doubles point like that. We lost it because we were gun-shy. In singles, obviously Lauren is doing a great job. To be undefeated at No. 1 for as long as she has in this season is incredible. You always know what you're going to get from her. At No. 2, Sam isn't physically there yet, but that's to be expected (after her injury). Paris had a great weekend, and I was happy to see her be successful. Devin is trying, but she beat herself today. Camila has done a great job. She can play even better tennis, but she's so feisty and she found a way to win. Marie has lots of talent. She's only a freshman, so she has lots of learning to do, but she needs to be more consistent."

The doubles point went to Utah, but it wasn't won easily. Marie Van Aelst and Maggie Cohen dropped a 6-0 match to Petrovic/Gerstner Da Rosa. The intensity then ratcheted up on courts one and two, as the teams dueled back and forth. The Utes eventually clinched the point when Calton/Cheng defeated Devin Chypyha and Camila Wesbrooks 6-4. Lauren Marker and Paris Corley battled back from 4-1 down against Pletcher/Turley to even the match at 5-5 before the point was clinched.
 
No. 31 Marker moved to 12-0 in dual match action with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Margo Pletcher. Marker is now just one victory shy of 100 for her career. Corley gave Arizona the lead by defeating Alexia Petrovic 6-1, 6-2. The Utes tied the match at 2-2 when Whitney Turley won a 6-4, 6-2 match over Van Aelst. Wesbrooks regained the Cats' lead with a         7-6(7-4), 6-2 victory over Taylor Calton. Brianna Turley tied it back it up by defeating Czarniak 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. That left the match to be decided on court four, where Chypyha and Jena Cheng engaged in a three-set duel. The first two sets went to a tiebreaker, setting up the deciding third set. Cheng clinched a Utah victory by winning 7-6(7-2), 6-7(4-7), 6-2.

Doubles
1. Lauren Marker/Paris Corley (ARIZ) vs. Margo Pletcher/Brianna Turley (UTAH) 5-5, unfinished
 
2. Taylor Calton/Jena Cheng (UTAH) def. Devin Chypyha/Camila Wesbrooks (ARIZ) 6-4
 
3. Alexia Petrovic/Luisa Gerstner Da Ro (UTAH) def. Marie Van Aelst/Maggie Cohen (ARIZ) 6-0
 
Singles
1. #31 Lauren Marker (ARIZ) def. Margo Pletcher (UTAH) 6-1, 6-1
 
2. Brianna Turley (UTAH) def. Samantha Czarniak (ARIZ) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
 
3. Paris Corley (ARIZ) def. Alexia Petrovic (UTAH) 6-1, 6-2
 
4. Jena Cheng (UTAH) def. Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2
 
5. Camila Wesbrooks (ARIZ) def. Taylor Calton (UTAH) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
 
6. Whitney Turley (UTAH) def. Marie Van Aelst (ARIZ) 6-4, 6-2
 
Up Next
Arizona will now head to northern California for its first road conference matches of the season. The Wildcats will take on California on Friday, Mar. 17 at 1:30 p.m. MST, and Stanford on Saturday, Mar. 18 at 12 p.m. MST.