Tennis teams battle injuries, foes
It was an injury-plagued weekend as Utah State’s women’s tennis defeated Montana State 7-0 and Gonzaga 4-3 this weekend for their third straight win and improving to 4-4 for the season.
The men’s tennis team split the weekend with a loss to Montana and a win against Gonzaga to go to 6-6 on the the season.
Richelle Moon and Hannes Schenk were able to sweep their singles matches this weekend and Lindsay Bennion fell for the first time in seven matches on Saturday against Gonzaga.
Last year against Montana the women’s tennis team defeated them 6-1. This gave the players some confidence heading into their match.
“We killed them last year and we told ourselves that we can kill them this year, too,” said Aggie Andrea Hansen.
The Aggie women did just that as they swept Montana 7-0. Hansen was unable to play on Saturday against Gonzaga after she pulled a muscle in her match on Friday.
Carolyn Stephens won her first singles match of the season, playing at the number five spot. She defeated Montana State’s Remy Clark 6-2, 6-2.
Moon, after sitting out the last two matches with an injury, didn’t let that stop her during her straight-set victory against Montana’s Katy Clarke, 6-1, 6-3.
The match against Montana started out well for the Aggies as they picked up their first doubles point in four straight matches. They also got the doubles point against Gonzaga on Saturday.
Earlier this month, the women’s tennis team fell to Gonzaga, but they were ready for them this time.
“We knew what we were up against,” Hansen said. “We had total confidence.”
Bennion pulled a hamstring, but still gave GU’s Jamie Buterbaugh a run for her money as she played through her injury going 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 at the number one singles position.
The Aggies saw wins at the number three, four and five positions from Moon, Courtney Anderson and Stephens.
The men’s tennis team suffered a hard loss on Friday to Montana, losing 6-1.
“We were a little disappointed with Montana,” said Aggie Jonah Nelson. “We didn’t play up to our ability.”
Nelson was unable to play against Gonzaga on Saturday because he pulled two muscles in his lower back against Montana.
Hannes Schenk was the only Aggie able to come up with a win against Montana. He defeated Adam Stutts 6-4, 7-6.
On Saturday, the Aggie men were able to bounce back for a win and defeated Gonzaga 6-1. Schenk won his third straight match and Tyler Bastian picked up his first win in singles this season.
Both teams now head to California to play several conference matches next week.
-aedmunds@cc.usu.edu
Jonah Nelson pulled his lower back at Montana and was unable to compete against Gonzaga. USU lost to Montana and beat Gonzaga. (Photo by John Zsiray)