Women’s tennis team sweeps ISU in opener
The Utah State women’s tennis team welcomed the season with broom in hand, sweeping host Idaho State 7-0 in a match yesterday in Pocatello, Idaho.
Following six straight-set victories, the Aggies followed the tear with back-to-back-to-back 8-3 wins in all three doubles matches.
Needless to say, head coach Christian Wright was more than pleased with his team’s dominance, and the poise they carried to the Gem State.
“I liked the direction we were going tonight – from our movement to staying sharp,” Wright said. “I liked the focus, and we didn’t exaggerate anything on our shots. Sometimes in a game you get excited and commit errors as a result, but we controlled ourselves in that regard.”
Even the bottom of the order was dominant yesterday afternoon for USU, highlighted by junior Julie Tukuafu in the No. 5 spot. She took her sets 6-0, 6-0, while senior Hailey Swenson limited junior Rilee Moorhead of Idaho State to just one game in their singles match-up.
In combining her play with her doubles performance, Tukuafu took 20 games for the afternoon, while falling in just three, while Swenson won 20 of 24 and No. 1 player, senior Jaclyn West, was a combined 20-5.
Sophomores Kristina Voytsekhovich and sophomore Romina Nedakovic also notched straight-set wins.
The Aggies did receive one small scare during the match when Idaho State’s
Laura Severino took junior Harris to extra points in the first set. However, Harris outlasted Severino, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.
That near-blemish to a perfect win only preceded the relatively easy doubles success.
Wright was pleased with the way the Aggie women cooperated in doubles play in not allowing many shots to escape between the two on either side of the court.
“In doubles, we moved well, and when we had the opportunities to poach or cut the ball in the middle, we did it,” said the 20-year coach. “We were very sharp. That gave us a little bit of momentum.”
Though Wright was a bit concerned about stepping into shots at times during the match, he was pleased overall heading into the match against the Broncos.
“I was pleased with how focused the girls were,” he said. “We were in-sync. We did a great job supporting each other, put in a lot of great work in preparation for this season, and it showed.”
Utah State now faces a stiff in-conference challenge when they face Mountain West Conference-bound Boise State (2-0), who is ranked No. 38 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Feb. 4 in Logan at the Sport Academy and Racquet Club.
– rhett.wilkinson@aggiemail.usu.edu
UTAH STATE’S KRISTINA VOYTSEKHOVICH returns a ball during tennis action last season. The tennis team opened its season in dominating fashion with a 7-0 victory over the Bengals of Idaho State. Statesman file photo