Women’s tennis loses to Idaho State, perpares for SUU
The Utah State women’s tennis team had a tough outing Wednesday vs. Idaho State University, losing 5-2. The Aggies had already beaten ISU earlier this year, 4-3, on Jan. 23.
No. 3 singles Richelle Ferguson and No. 4 singles Tracy Bertagna each played well, both winning their singles matches in two quick sets. Ferguson made quick work of ISU’s Laura Swan, 6-4, 6-1. With her parents visiting from Roswell, Ga., Bertagna beat Lauren Dial 6-2, 6-1.
Assistant Coach Jeven West was pleased at how they came to play.
“Richelle and Tracy played great,” West said. “They were focused and they executed their shots.”
No. 1 single Sarah Lowe had a tough time finding a rhythm against ISU’s Irene Kakulia, as she was overpowered, 6-1, 6-4. Jocee Mason, No. 2 single, once again took her match to a third set and was edged out 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. West said the team’s top three singles all had tough matches Wednesday.
“ISU’s top three singles are very strong,” West said. “They have improved since we played them earlier this season.”
No. 5 single Johanna Johnson and No. 6 single Amelia Martinez also had a tough time playing their opponents. Neither could find her touch as both were forced to play a different style of tennis, West said.
“They were forced to play a hacking style of tennis in which they had to chop at it and hit a lot of overheads,” he said.
Johnson lost 6-1, 6-4, while Martinez lost 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
Earlier in the day, the No. 1 doubles tandem of Lowe and Amy Thatcher fought hard but lost 8-6 to Denise Fernandez and Laura Swan. At No. 2 doubles, Mason and Ferguson lost to an impressive Bengal tandem of Irene Kakulia and Hayli Scott 8-4. Bertagna and Martinez, the No. 3 doubles, blanked their opponents 8-0, raising their record to 4-1 since they began playing together at the Hawaii Invitational in March.
The women’s team (4-8) will head to St. George this weekend for a tournament vs. teams yet to be determined. Southern Utah University, a team the Aggies beat 7-0, will be at the tournament, along with a team from Chicago and Oakland.
“We will be ready to play great tennis,” Ferguson said.
Meanwhile, the USU men’s team had a scheduled match vs. Weber State University Tuesday, but it was canceled because of snow on the courts. West said the men are playing confident and are having some really good practices.
The men’s team will play at home vs. Idaho State on Wednesday and against Montana State University Friday.