Women netters pick up first Big West conference win
Its third straight win brought the Utah State women’s tennis team one step closer to reaching its full potential.
Wrapping up a four-match home stand Tuesday against Cal State Fullerton (4-14), the Aggies continued their solid play, winning 5-2.
“[The players] are approaching a higher level,” said USU Head Coach Chris Wright. “They’re taking steps toward that, but we can play even much better than we have. I have no doubt about that.”
Utah State (5-6) started out aiming for that higher level in doubles play, grabbing two of the three matches to win the doubles point.
At No. 1, Caroline Pollock and Lindsey Bennion were able to go up 6-1 by holding their serve and getting two straight breaks. The Aggies won the second break when Bennion took a forehand and painted the line, slipping it past both Fullerton players. The Utah State duo defeated Ruya Inalpulat and Ioana Sisoe 8-3.
A victory at No. 2 helped the Aggie tandem of Haley Hawkins and Carolyn Larsen get back to their winning ways. Suffering through a four-match losing streak, the pair defeated Brittany Minna and Adriana Hockicko 8-4.
“I felt like we’d kind of been off the last couple days,” Hawkins said. “I think today, I just felt like we were more of ourselves, how we normally play together.”
Utah State’s loss in doubles came at No. 3 as Titans Jessica Martin and Caroline Freeman topped Jill Smith and Andrea Hansen 8-4.
Using the momentum of holding the lead, the Aggies continued to roll in
singles.
As has been par for her last few matches, Pollock fell behind a set at No. 1, but fought back to defeat Inalpulat 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
“It seems to be my trend to go three sets, so I kind of expect it,” Pollock said. “I definitely know I can win and beat anyone I play.”
At No. 2, after winning a close first set 6-4, Larsen went on to blank Hockicko, 6-0, in the second set for the victory.
In her No. 3 spot, Bennion continued to shine. In the most lopsided match of the day, Bennion crushed Minna, not giving up a single game on the way to a 6-0, 6-0 rout.
“I think she kind of gave up in the second set when I was up 3-0,” Bennion said. “She started talking to herself and getting frustrated.”
Bennion said the victory was one of the most one-sided she has had.
“Especially for college, 6-0, 6-0 in college, being a freshman too, that’s a big thing,” she said.
The other Aggie singles victory came at No. 5, where Shelly Ferguson shutout Martin in the first set and cruised in the second for a 6-0, 6-3 win.
The two Aggie losses for the day were both heartbreakers decided in third-set tiebreakers. Sisoe edged Smith 5-7, 6-4, 10-8 at No. 4 and Freeman slipped by Hansen, 6-4, 5-7, 10-3 at No. 6.
Utah State is now 5-1 at home this spring.
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