Aggie tennis tames ISU Bengals
The Utah State women’s tennis team traveled to Pocatello to take on the Idaho State Bengals on their home turf. The Aggies notched their third win of the season, defeating ISU 7-0.
Utah State started off strong, sweeping the Bengals in doubles action and carried the momentum over into singles play.
“They pretty much dominated. All three doubles spots won convincingly,” said assistant coach Bryan Marchant of the Aggies’ play. “(They) dominated from the get-go and never let Idaho State into the match.”
Utah State freshman McKenzie Davis, last week’s Western Athletic Conference player of the week, remained undefeated in regular-season play by dismissing her ISU opponent, Laura Porres, in straight sets. The Salt Lake City native’s offensive style of play pressures her opponents and keeps them on their toes.
“Davis did the same thing that she always does,” Marchant said. “She played her game and rolled through her match.”
Playing in the No. 2 singles position, Davis served out a bagel and two breadsticks, 6-0, 6-2, to defeat Porres.
Throughout singles play the Aggies overpowered the Bengals, shutting down any opportunity for them to get into the match.
“Going in, they were extremely confident,” Marchant said. “We knew what we were going up against and came in expecting to beat them pretty good.”
All six Aggie singles players won in similar fashion, completely controlling the points and utilizing their strengths both on the baseline and at the net.
Senior Romina Nedakovic defeated ISU’s Marian Tangarife in straight sets in the No. 4 singles position, but Tangarife did not go down without a fight. Battling in the first set, Nedakovic took it 7-5, then 6-4 in the second.
Marchant said the senior pulled out two tough sets.
“Nedakovic played a tough opponent that made her work for every point,” Marchant said. “She had to really work for every point and had to grind it out. I’m proud of her and how she competed.”
Junior Jaci West continued to overwhelm her opponents, defeating Katherine Marsela, 6-2, 6-2, in the No. 1 singles position.
Sohomore Kristina Voytsekovich also dismissed her opponent Rilee Moorhead in straight sets with a 6-1, 6-0 win in the No. 3 singles spot.
Brianna Rowland defeated Bengal Rachel Ryan, 6-2, 6-1, in the No. 5 singles position.
Senior Monica Abella returned to action from missing the past double-meet because of illness to oust Zamira Vazquez, 6-4, 6-3, in the No. 6 singles position.
The women’s team next travels to Las Vegas to take on UNLV on Friday, Feb. 17, and UC, Riverside on Saturday, Feb. 18.
“We play a couple of tough teams, but we definitely are going down there looking to win,” Marchant said. “They are tough opponents but we are an extremely confident bunch right now and looking for that big win to get over the hump a little bit.”
– mega.bodi@aggiemail.usu.edu
Results: Feb. 9, 2012
Utah State: 7
Idaho State: 0
Singles
West, Jaci def. Marsela, Katherina 6-2, 6-2
Davis, McKenzie def. Porras, Laura, 6-1, 6-2
Voytsekhovich, Kristina def.Moorehead, Rilee, 6-1, 6-0
Nedakovic, Romina def. Tangarife, Marian 7-6, 6-4
Rowland, Brianna def. Ryan, Rachel 6-2, 6-1
Abella, Monica def. Vazquez, Zamira 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
West, J./Davis, M. def. Marsela, K./Porras, L., 8-2
Nedakovic, R. Voytsekhovich, K. def. Moorhead, R./Tangarife, M., 8-6
Watts, K./Rowland, B. def. Vasquez, Z./Ryan, R., 8-2