Feb. 5, 2003
Pocatello, ID---Idaho State came from behind to sweep all three doubles matches, then won three of the first four singles matches to remain perfect on the young season with a 5-2 win over Utah State in women's tennis action Wednesday afternoon at the ISU Indoor Tennis Courts.
Utah State looked impressive early taking leads on all three courts, including a 5-0 lead at number three doubles. But the team of Armine Sarkavagyan and Carol Tolsma won eight of the next nine games to win that match. The other two doubles teams followed suit, both winning their matches by an 8-5 count after trailing by a break early on.
The play continued in singles action. After Richelle Ferguson tied the match at 1-1 with a 6-1, 6-3, victory over Kristina Arutjunova, the Bengals would win the next three singles matches to clinch the win. Eka Jvania overcame a slow start to win at number one singles, 7-6, 6-2, over Caroline Pollock. Melanie Kranz was untouchable in sets one and three to win her match at number two, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1, against Carolyn Larsen. Hayli Scott put the finishing touches on the victory with a 6-4, 6-3, win over Lindsey Bennion at number three singles.
Tolsma defeated Audrea Hansen, 1-6, 6-1 and 10-8 in the third set tiebreaker to give the Bengals their final margin of 5-2. Jill Smith defeated Sarkavagyan, 6-2, 6-4, to give Utah State it's other singles victory.
With the win ISU improves to 2-0 on the season. The Bengals will take the court next this weekend when they travel to Boise, ID, to take on Boise State, Gonzaga and Montana State in dual matches. ISU will face Montana State on Friday at 3 p.m., then take on Boise State Saturday at noon and finish on Sunday with a noon match against Gonzaga.
Idaho State 5, Utah State 2
Women's Tennis
ISU Indoor Tennis Courts, Pocatello, ID
Doubles
#1 Jvania/Scott (ISU) d. Bennion/Pollock (USU), 8-5
#2 Arutjunova/Kranz (ISU) d. Ferguson/Larsen (USU), 8-5
#3 Sarkavagyan/Tolsma (ISU) d. Hansen/Smith (USU), 8-6
Singles
#1 Eka Jvania (ISU) d. Caroline Pollock (USU), 7-6, 6-2
#2 Melanie Kranz (ISU) d. Carolyn Larsen (USU), 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
#3 Hayli Scott (ISU) d. Lindsey Bennion (USU), 6-4, 6-3
#4 Richelle Ferguson (USU) d. Kristina Arutjunova (ISU), 6-1, 6-3
#5 Jill Smith (USU) d. Armine Sarkavagyan (ISU), 6-2, 6-4
#6 Carol Tolsma (ISU) d. Audrea Hansen (USU), 1-6, 6-1 (10-8)
Record: ISU 2-0
