Women’s tennis team breaks losing streak
After being in the middle of a slump, the USU women’s tennis team was excited to see Idaho State next on their schedule.
The Aggies were on a seven-game losing streak and their last win was in Pocatello against the Bengals on Jan. 22. USU took care of business again, beating ISU 5-2 Wednesday at the Sports Academy and Racquet Club.
The Aggies (2-7) were able to make quick work of the Bengals (0-6).
“They had a good attitude in practice – they’ve been working hard,” said USU coach Christian Wright, reflecting on how the team responded to the heartbreaker last week.
The players said their hard work was not due to any previous success or failure.
“I just think about going out and winning every match, whether we won the last one or lost the last one,” said sophomore Hailey Swenson.
Swenson and senior Bridgette Strickland dominated the first doubles match against ISU’s Stephanie Roldan and Sophie Dang, 8-1. USU’s Monica Abella and Carla Limon did the same against Lisel Lewis and Risa Fujiwara of Idaho State, winning 8-2 in the second doubles match. That secured the doubles point for the Aggies. Idaho State only had five girls competing at the event, so Utah State automatically won the third doubles match.
Wright said, “I thought our net play in doubles play was really good. They lobbed quite a bit and we did a good job of putting our overheads away.”
USU’s Swenson continued to have an easy day as she breezed through her match-up with Lewis 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 1 singles spot. In the No. 3 singles, sophomore Taylor Perry defeated Roldan, 6-1, 6-3. And the Aggies were able to automatically get the win at No. 6 singles spot because of ISU only having the five girls playing.
Strickland and junior Britney Watts both lost on close matches at No. 2 and No. 4 singles, respectively.
Every match Wednesday, including singles and doubles, was finished in two sets, which made it a little less dramatic than last week against Weber State.
Utah State will now turn their attention to their next match Sunday. They will match up with an unfamiliar foe in Eastern Washington, who they last played in 2007.
“I’ve heard they’re generally pretty good, but I don’t know any specifics,” Swenson said.
The Aggies matchup with the Eagles will be March 8 at the Sports Academy and Racquet Club at 10 a.m. Admission to games is always free to the public.
Wright said, “It seems like everyone is getting better so we expect it to be a tough match.” –chet.gardner@aggiemail.usu.edu