Utah
SWIMMING & DIVING: The Utah men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept New Mexico Friday night, the men winning 164-76 and the women 139-94. The Utes won every event excluding the men's breast and women's IM and backstroke events.
First-place performers included Lisa Ripken (1,000 and 500 free), Alisa Graham (200 free), Molly Lauber (50 free and 200 breast), Erin Blundell (200 fly), Emily Monroe (100 free), and Kristy Mayo (1- and 3-meter dives). Utah men placing first were Robert Renna (1,000 free), Brian Lohrke (200 free), Johan Nystrom (50 and 100 free), Jon Wright (400 IM), Matt Chamberlain (200 fly and 500 free) and Mike Greene (200 back).
"We are right on track," said U. coach Dennis Tesch. "We swam tough and both sides did well. It was the senior women's last meet and they gave a great performance. The women haven't won New Mexico in years and it's great to see improvement."
WOMEN'S TENNIS: Rebecca Foulger-Rushforth lost in the semifinals of the Utah Invitational to nationally ranked Adrien Jenkins of Brigham Young 6-1, 6-2.
Jenkins moves on to face teammate Kim Kelly in the 10 a.m. finals today in the George S. Eccles Tennis Center.
Jamie Zenger won the consolation bracket of the invitational tournament. She defeated Natalie Poulson, Jackie Ellis and Sydney Manning - all of Utah State - in order to claim the title.
In doubles action, Foulger-Rushforth and Molly Sanderson lost in the quarterfinals to the BYU team of Shari Smith and Tara Ferguson 9-7 in a hard-fought match. Smith and Ferguson advanced to today's finals and will face another Cougar squad in Kelly and Jenkins at 11:30 a.m.
Brigham Young
WOMEN'S TENNIS: It will be Cougar vs. Cougar in the finals in both singles and doubles at the University of Utah Invitational on Saturday. The Cougar players won all of their matches in Friday's semifinal rounds.
Top-seeded Adrien Jenkins advanced to the finals in singles by defeating Rebecca Rushforth from Utah, 6-1, 6-2.
Teammate Kim Kelly also advanced to the final singles round by beating teammate Tara Ferguson in a hard-fought three-setter, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
"This tournament is serving the purpose we had wanted. Adrien is playing very well coming into the tournament seeded first," said BYU coach Clark Barton.
"Tara and Kim both played very well. Kim gutted it out at the end once she figured out what she needed to do to get the win. Tara continued her stellar play at this tourney," added Barton.
In the doubles finals, two Cougars will also play each other. The Smith/Ferguson duo defeated the No. 4 seeded Rushforth/Sanderson team from Utah, 9-7, and then defeated the Bullock/Poulson duo from Utah State, 8-2.
Jenkins/Kelly is the other BYU doubles duo, playing together for the first time. They advanced to the finals by defeating two Weber State teams, Waywood/Evans, 9-7, and the Kuhn/Damsgaard duo, 8-3.
The finals in singles are scheduled for 10 a.m., with the final doubles at 11:30 a.m., at the Eccles Tennis Center on the University of Utah campus.
Weber State
MEN'S TENNIS: Weber State's men's tennis team is back in action with a pair of dual matches next week. The Wildcats play at Utah Monday at 6 p.m. at the Eccles Tennis Center in Salt Lake City. Weber State travels to Pocatello to play Idaho State in a non-conference match Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Reed Gym.
The Wildcats are 1-0 this season after defeating Utah State 6-1 to open the 1998 campaign. The Utes play their first match of the season at home against Utah State Friday, while the match against Idaho State will be the Bengals first of the season.
Weber State is still looking for its first win against Utah. The Utes hold a 31-0 edge over the Wildcats in the series, winning the match-up last season 7-0. The Wildcats have had better luck against their conference rivals Idaho State. Weber State enjoys a 31-10 edge in the series, though the Bengals defeated the Wildcats 6-1 last season.