Women’a tennis scratch by Bengals, men to take on University of Utah
It was deja vu for Aggie Carolyn Larsen and the Utah State University women’s tennis team Wednesday.
Except this time, both Larsen and the Aggies found themselves on the winning end, defeating Idaho State University, 4-3, in Pocatello, Idaho.
With Larsen on the court and the match tied 3-3, the situation was eerily similar to Utah State’s match against Air Force Academy Monday when USU lost all three doubles matches before winning three singles matches to tie Air Force, 3-3. In the final match, Larsen was defeated in three sets and the Aggies lost 4-3.
Wednesday in Pocatello, the match played out much the same way. The Aggies fell behind early, losing all three doubles matches and needed four singles points for the victory.
To open singles, Utah State’s top two players both fell. Sarah Lowe was defeated by Ika Kakulia 7-5, 6-4, while Jocee Bergeson lost 7-5, 7-6, to Eka Jvania.
In the remainder of the singles matches, Utah State came out on top. For the Aggies, Caroline Pollock defeated Carol Tolsma 6-1, 6-1, Shelly Ferguson beat Hayli Scott 6-1, 6-3, and Haley Hawkins was victorious over Lauren Dial, 6-2, 6-0.
Those three victories tied the Aggies and ISU at 3-3, putting Larsen in the deciding match.
After losing the first set to Melani Kranz, 4-6, Larsen came back and won the next two sets 6-2, 6-3, to give USU the 4-3 victory.
Larsen said the turning point came in the third set. She and Kranz had both held their serve and with Larsen leading 4-3, it was Kranz’s serve.
“I broke her [serve] that game so I went up 5-3,” Larsen said. “It was really late in the match but a turning point is a turning point. It helped me get back in there and finish it off.”
The victory moves Utah State to 2-2 on the season and ISU is now 2-1 on the season.
The Aggies will go until Feb. 8 until they play again when they travel to Montana State University.
Though the Aggie women have two weeks off, the men will play Saturday at in-state rival University of Utah.
The Aggies opened their season at 1-1 after defeating Idaho State on the road and losing to Air Force at home.
To beat Utah, Head Coach Chris Wright said the Aggies will have to play disciplined tennis and stay focused.
He said, “If anyone even lightens up a little bit, then we’re not going to get a good chance to [win]. We’ve got to be the aggressor rather than let them dictate tempo and us be counter-punchers.”
One factor working against the Aggies will be injuries. West said all of the players are hurting a little bit, but senior Tadd Hinze has not been able to play a match.
Wright said Hinze has tennis elbow, which is tendonitis in the forearm and elbow.
“We’re a little banged up in a few positions but hopefully we’ll be ready to go,” Wright said.
Saturday’s match will start at 5 p.m. at the Eccles Tennis Center in Salt Lake City.