Boulytcheva Finds Victory in Defeat

Olga Boulytcheva advances to quarterfinals before losing in the National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships.

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Nov. 4, 2005

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Playing against the best in the nation didn't faze Olga Boulytcheva as she advanced to the quarterfinals before losing in the National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships

The tournament's second round matched Boulytcheva up against the No. 2 seeded Amanda Fink from the University Southern California. Coming out of the gates strong, Boulytcheva surprised her opponent, jumping out to a quick lead and cruising to the first set victory 6-2. The second set did not look anything like the first as Boulytcheva and Fink battled back and forth, point by point, until Boulytcheva squeaked out the victory 7-6.

With the win Boulytcheva set herself up for a tough quarterfinal match against Florida's Diana Srebovic, who coach Craig Manning said is the best player he's seen so far. Boulytcheva played great tennis for the first half of the first set, but up 5-2 and 40-15 in the game she started to slip. Boulytcheva never quit fighting; even taking the second set to an extra game, but eventually lost the match 6-4, 7-6.

"Olga played awesome," Manning said of Boulytcheva's performance. "It's just such a high level of tennis once you get this far that you can't make any mistakes."

Although Boulytcheva's advancing to the national quarterfinals is the best a tennis player has done in the 14 years he's been associated with BYU tennis, Manning said Boulytcheva's best play happened off the court. Fifteen minutes after her loss to Srebovic and as the lights were being turned off in the gym, Boulytcheva sat with her coach analyzing the way she'd played-talking about what she did well, where she needed to improve and what she needed to do to get better.

"That really says a lot about the type of player she is and what she can become," Manning said of the senior.

While Boulytcheva's success is exciting for her as an individual, Manning said it is equally as exciting for the BYU Tennis program as a whole.

"This is good for everybody," Manning said. "The girls play against Olga at practice, and seeing her here (at nationals) they realize they can be right here with her. I'm just excited for the team when the season starts in January."