Aggies split with La. Tech and San Francisco
The Utah State women’s tennis team took to the courts Friday and Saturday in back-to-back matches against University of San Francisco and Louisiana Tech. Splitting the weekend, the Aggies improved 6-6 in season play and 1-0 in Western Athletic Conference action.
USU 3, USF 4
USU dropped a heartbreaker to USF on Friday. For the second time this season the Aggies could not continue momentum after winning the doubles point, losing to the Dons in singles action.
Utah State came out strong in doubles, winning the point two pro-sets to one.
Junior Jaci West and freshman McKenzie Davis cleaned up quick, defeating Julie Wartenburger and Blair Reed 8-3 in the No. 1 doubles position.
Junior Kristina Voytsekhovich and senior Romina Nedakovic clinched the doubles point, dismissing Melinda Akerbrant and Alana McMahon 8-4 in the No. 2 doubles spot.
Senior Brianna Rowland and freshman Kimberly Watts were defeated by Milica Tanovic and Yurie Hashiguchi in a tiebreaker 7-8.
The Dons were not sent home easily and came back to win the match in singles action.
West fell to Wartenburger in straight sets in the No. 1 singles position. After losing the first 5-7, West was up early in the second set 5-2. Wartenburger came back to win four games in a row, taking the match 7-5, 7-6.
Davis continued her dominance, dismissing Akerbrant in two sets 7-6, 6-3 in the No. 2 singles position.
Voytsekovich dropped to Tanovic, 6-7, 3-6 in the No. 3 singles position.
Nedakovic lost in three sets to Hashiguchi in the No. 4 singles position. The senior took the first set in a tiebreaker, but Hashiguchi came back to win the second. The two traded shots in the third, taking it into another tiebreaker. The Don came out on top, winning the match 6-7, 6-4, 7-6. Head coach Chris Wright said it was the battle of the day.
“Super hard fought match, definitely could be one of the best efforts from anybody this whole season,” Wright said. “She had every reason to get negative and frustrated but didn’t.”
McMahon defeated Rowland 6-3, 6-4 in the No. 5 singles position, and Monica Abella defeated Reed in three, 1-6, 6-3, 10-7 in the No. 6 singles position.
“It was a good match. We knew it was going to be a close match,” Wright said. “It was disappointing. I really thought we were going to pull it out.”
USU 6, La. Tech 1
The Aggies rebounded from a tough loss Friday to take a win in conference play Saturday against Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
The Aggies gained the lead early, taking the doubles point by winning two of the three matches.
In singles action, USU carried the momentum over to almost shut the door on La. Tech for a complete sweep.
West battled Laura Fernandez in the No. 1 singles position. Both players struggled to hold serve, taking the first set into a tiebreaker that West won. The second set proved no easier for the California native, as it took a little extra to dismiss Fernandez. West took the match in straight sets 7-6, 7-5.
“West stuck with her opponent,” Wright said. “She hung in there and won.”
Davis rolled through Vivian ten Dolle 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles position.
Voytsekovich held her opponent to four games, defeating Elne Bernard 6-4, 6-0 in the No. 3 singles position.
Nedakovic bounced back from a tough loss Friday to win her match over Alena Erofeyeva 7-6, 6-2 in the No. 4 singles spot.
The only loss of the day came from Abella in three sets to Maartje De Wit 6-2, 4-6, 4-10 in the No. 5 singles position. Abella jumped out early in the super tiebreaker 3-1 but the Don came back for the win. USU assistant coach Bryan Marchant said Abella stayed tough in her match but couldn’t pull it out.
“Abella is always a fighter. She is good at a cat and mouse type of game,” Marchant said. “She had two close matches in a row, she just wasn’t playing her game but she fought hard.”
Julie Tukuafu needed three sets to wrap up Aggie tennis action, defeating Anna Zureck 7-5, 3-6, 11-9.
“We came in hungrier and played smarter in today’s match,” Marchant said. “We are excited to get a conference victory in our first WAC match of the year.”
Utah State continues action Monday at noon against No. 74 Santa Clara at the Sports Academy.
– mega.bodi@aggiemail.usu.edu