Lowe and Martinez’s 8-6 doubles match loss key in Colorado State’s win over the Aggies
With the Aggies tying 3-3 in the singles matches, point lost in doubles turned out to be the difference in the dual vs. Colorado State University.
In a college tennis dual, seven points are possible (six for singles and one for doubles). To get a point for doubles the team has to win two of the three matches. So with the No. 2 and No. 3 matches finished and the score even at one, all eyes were on the No. 1 match.
“I expected a close doubles match,” said USU assistant coach Jevin West.
Despite leading for most of the match, USU’s Sarah Lowe and Amelia Martinez lost 8-6 to CSU’s Amanda Bartz and Bobbe Vasos.
“We had a lot of chances, and that’s what’s disappointing,” Lowe said.
After being on serve for the first seven games, the Aggies finally broke the Rams after five deuces on Lowe’s volley winner. The game gave USU a 5-3 advantage, but CSU broke Martinez’s serve right back to keep pace.
Bartz double-faulted on her serve to give USU the break at 6-4 and Lowe was serving 30-love to go up 7-4, but the Rams rallied to take the next three games and served for the match at 7-6.
The Aggies fought off four match points – many of them intense volley battles – before Martinez hit a volley into the net to give CSU the point for the doubles.
“That was fun,” Lowe said. “A lot of good points.”
Despite the loss, the team was encouraged by the result because Martinez, normally the No. 6 singles player, was filling in for Lowe’s usual partner, Amy Thatcher, who was recovering from an ankle injury, West said.
“We played solid together,” Lowe said.