POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State women's tennis competes at the Bedford Cup Sept. 13-16 to open fall play in Colorado Springs, Colo. The team makes its trip to the Air Force Academy just days after the men's team earned nine singles wins at the same location.
"I'm looking forward to the fact that there are 30 courts at Air Force," said Head Coach
Gretchen Maloney. "It's such an opportunity for us to be there with some bigger schools, several that are with higher conferences than we are, and to be able to see that level and for the girls to be able to see what it takes to be able to play at that level. It will be a really big challenge for us."
The women will face the same altitude challenges the men did last week. The Air Force Academy is almost three thousand feet higher than ISU's campus which changes the play.
The tournament provides a chance for all the girls to travel with the team and put in some early-season work. The Bengals will also have some unique opportunities during their stay.
"We get to go to a banquet on Friday night at one of the ballrooms, and that's just going to be a neat experience that they will always remember," Maloney said. "We've been there before, but just checking in at the gate and the whole environment and atmosphere is cool."
Team Outlook
The women's team finished 6-5 in conference play last season, making their second-straight appearance in the conference tournament. The team returns every player from 2017-18 except
Kristen Newell and welcomes
Adriene Pavek.
Louise-Mare Botes dominated for Idaho State a season ago, tallying a 16-4 record and winning nine of 11 in conference play. She was 13-1 at the No. 3 position. Her sister,
Huibre-Mare Botes, finished the season with an 11-9 record and an 8-3 conference record, including three wins at the No. 1 position. The twins paired up in doubles and finished 12-10 overall.
Angela Walker posted another winning record for Idaho State last year, finishing 12-10 overall and 6-5 in conference play. Meagan Poe was 9-11 overall but posted the second-highest win total in conference play at 8-3.
Poe teamed up with
Hristina Cvetkovic for most of the season in doubles and the duo finished 5-11. Cvetkovic battled through an injury last season, finishing 3-14 overall and 2-7 in Big Sky play.
Melissa Coburn secured six wins on the season with three in conference play. She held a perfect 1-0 record at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions, but played most of the season in the fourth position.
Andrea Osborn did not play much last season, but impressed when she did with a 2-0 record overall. Likewise,
Madison Fenske posted four wins in six matches and was 2-0 in conference play.
Adriene Pavek joins the team after winning three Idaho 4A Singles Championships at Century High School. She is the first student-athlete to join the Idaho State roster in two seasons.
During her last title run, Pavek dropped just two sets. She also led her team to three-consecutive team championships at the state championships. She has been named the Idaho State Journal All-Area Girls Player of the Year twice.
