USU women fall to Utes on road, Portland and Air Force at home
The outcome was in doubt until the final match as the Utah State University women’s tennis team fell to the Air Force Academy, 4-3, Monday, going 1-2 in its opening weekend.
Opening the day, the Aggies fell behind early after being swept in all three doubles matches.
“I was a little disappointed in doubles,” Head Coach Chris Wright said. “I felt like we had a very good chance to win those.”
Following doubles, the Aggies would need to win four of six singles matches for the overall victory.
“We knew if we turned it around, changed our attitude and refocused that we could come back and win in singles,” USU tennis player Caroline Pollock said. “That ended up not happening, but it did come down to one match.”
After Air Force’s Brooke Parsons defeated Sarah Lowe 6-0, 6-4 in No. 1 singles, the Aggies picked up points with victories by Jocee Bergeson, Haley Hawkins and Pollock to go up 3-2 with two points to be decided.
In the No. 4 match, Shelly Ferguson took Falcon Gina Black to three sets before losing 6-1, 6-7, 7-5.
“Ferguson [lost] in three and she just fought her guts out,” Wright said. “That was a good showing for her. She just showed what she was capable of doing.”
The final match was between Aggie Carolyn Larsen and Kelli O’Bryant. After losing to Larsen 6-7 in the first set, O’Bryant battled back to win the final two sets 6-3, 6-3 and gave AFA the overall victory.
“[Larsen] played a very good match,” Wright said. “Her heart was in there. The desire was there. She fought off five or six match points right there at the end. I can’t fault the effort.”
In their home opener Saturday, the Aggies played Portland State University, sweeping all the matches and not losing a set en route to a 7-0 victory.
“I’m happy that everyone was able to get a win, and we did some things better,” Wright said.
Ferguson said, [Saturday] was a great experience for me to gain some more confidence and start my game up again.”
Ferguson won her match 6-1, 6-0.
Friday, USU opened its season with a 5-2 loss to in-state rival University of Utah.
“It’s a hard way to open and they play well at home,” Wright said. “The desire was there, but there were some real nerves that were a factor.”
The Aggies only two points came in singles with Lowe defeating Ellen Svensson 7-5, 6-4 and Larsen beating Cassie Kastler 6-2, 6-3.
“Caroline Larsen had a huge win,” Wright said. “That’s her first Division I college match, and she beat a girl that’s one of the best players in the region.”
The Aggies will return to action Wednesday at Idaho State University.
“If we go out with the type of intensity we had in singles [on Monday], then we can get it done, but it’ll be a tough match,” Wright said. “They’re a good team, Idaho State, especially playing at home.”