Women’s tennis picks up first win of the year at Weber State
Utah State women’s tennis picked up its first win of the season Saturday with a 4-3 victory at Weber State.
The Aggies opened up the match by winning two of the three doubles pairings against the Wildcats. Sophomore Brianna Harris and junior Bridgette Strickland won the No. 1 doubles pairing with an 8-6 victory over Weber State seniors Inalise Pienaar and Ashley Schapper. Utah State also claimed a victory in No. 3 doubles with freshmen Jennifer Johnson and Taylor Perry edging a 9-8 win over Weber sophomores Kelli Lindley and Greyce Farias.
“Overall, everyone just played very smart,” Strickland said of the victory.
Utah State freshman Hailey Swenson defeated Weber State senior Pienaar in a straight set victory in No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-2. Utah State also won No. 6 singles with Johnson’s straight set victory over Weber’s Lindley, 6-4, 6-1.
Because of a scheduling conflict of one of Weber State’s players, the No. 4 singles pairing was pushed back to the end of the match. That No. 4 singles match-up began with the teams tied at three points each, making it the deciding point between the two teams. With the other singles pairings finishing before the No. 4 singles match, both teams were down on the court to cheer on their teammate for the deciding match-up.
“It was like a battle of the fans,” Strickland said.
In the only pairing of the entire match to go to a third set, Utah State’s Britney Watts defeated Greyce Farias 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
“(Watts) just battled on every point,” Strickland said. “She served amazing. It seemed like the other girl wasn’t as focused on winning as she was.”
The victory pushes the Aggies’ record to 1-1 on the season. The Aggie women are back in action Wednesday to take on Idaho State in Pocatello.
-matt.sonn@aggiemail.usu.edu