Women’s tennis team squeaks by with a W
USU women claimed their second match in a row yesterday at the Logan Sports Academy. They faced off with Northern Arizona University at noon, and slid by with the win, 4-3.
“We knew it was going to be a close match going into it,” head coach Christian Wright said. “But I think we could have done better and played a little harder. I am happy with the outcome, but we could have tried harder.”
Wright said tennis is an extremely mental sport, and the players need to stay positive to win a match.
“I always tell the girls to have a good attitude, no matter the conditions,” Wright said. “We talk about only controlling the things you have control over and staying positive. Every player has something that didn’t go their way, or something they can be upset about. You can’t let it affect you.”
He commends the girls for helping one another with their attitudes: “They have nicknames for each other and always have fun.”
The Ags took the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and 2 positions. Senior Hayley Swenson and freshman Jaclyn West, at the No. 1 spot, took a 8-5 victory over Orsi Golovics and Malia Wahinepio. This win improved Swenson and West to an 11-4 season record in doubles. Freshman Kristina Voytsekhovich and junior Taylor Perry secured the doubles point at the No. 2 position, with a victory over the Lumberjack’s Nicole Perez and Aimee Oki, 8-5. At No. 3, sophomore Monica Abella and senior Brittney Watts fell to NAU’s Edit Suhajda and Yui Hasegawa, 8-0.
Wright mentioned that Northern Arizona was at a slight advantage over USU, regardless of not having home-court advantage.
“They’re used to an even higher elevation than Logan, and so physically the match was probably easier for them,” Wright said. “We enjoy having matches at home. It helps us slip into our comfort zone.”
Singles action went half and half for the Aggies, who only won at the first three positions. Swenson, at No. 1, battled through three sets to beat Suhajda, 6-0, 2-6, 6-3. West came next, sealing the win and defeating NAU’s Orsi Golovic. West cut it close, as well, playing three sets to win, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
“Jackie was under a lot of pressure at this point,” Wright said. “She had done the mental math and knew the match was riding on her. She stayed tough, though, and really came through.”
Voytsekhovich, at No. 3, beat Aimee Oki, 6-4, 6-2. Abella fell, 6-3, 6-3, to the Lumberjack’s Malia Wahinepio at No. 4, and Perry was defeated by NAU’S Nichole Perez, 6-1, 6-1, Watts dropped the No. 6 point in the final singles match, losing to Yumi Hasegawa, 6-3, 6-1.
The Ags now hold an 8-7 record on the regular season, and a 1-1 WAC record. The team hopes to improve that record this weekend, when it faces off with three conference teams: Fresno State, New Mexico State and Nevada. All matches are in Las Cruces, N.M.
– kayla.clark@aggiemail.usu.edu