POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State women's tennis team showed its grit in a 4-3 win over Utah State Sunday afternoon. The Bengals lost the doubles point and had to fight through two tiebreakers in singles play to secure the marginal victory.
The win was Idaho State's first against Utah State in over a decade. The Bengals won the inaugural match between the two teams in 2003, but had lost 23 consecutive matches leading up to Sunday's contest.
"It was an epic college tennis match today," said Head Coach
Gretchen Maloney. "It was tied three-all and it came down to a third-set tiebreak that can go either way. I think it was just sheer determination today and the girls really wanted it."
Hristina Cvetkovic earned the first point for Idaho State after cruising past her opponent in a 6-2, 6-2 win. However, Utah State won the next two matches at No. 3 and No. 4 singles to put victory within reach.
Louise-Mare Botes was the first to deny USU the win. She won the first set 6-4 against Hannah Jones before falling 5-7 in the second. She capped the 34-game match with a 7-5 win in the closing frame.
Then
Angela Walker took the court vacated by Cvetkovic. She lost the first set 1-6, putting Utah State one game from victory. Walker reset and forced another contest with a 6-3 win in the second. The foes were even at 6-6 in the third, forcing a tiebreak which Walker won (7-2).
The match rested on the shoulders of
Megan Poe who won the first set 6-3 before falling 2-6 in the second. Poe snatched victory from the hands of USU with a 7-6 (7-5) win to close competition.
"The girls just never quit believing they could win in their singles matches," Maloney said. "They kept fighting. The girls were really willing to make adjustments today and to do whatever it took to win the match. It wasn't necessarily how they like to play, but they played smart and never quit fighting."
Idaho State had a row of supporters lining the No. 1 court for the home opener. A large portion of the onlookers was made up of ISU student-athletes.
"I love the energy and I'm grateful for the fans that come out and cheer us on," Maloney said. "We had some good energy today that I think helped pull us through. It was fun."
Up next for Idaho State is a road trip to California. The Bengals will play four matches in as many days Feb. 8-11 beginning with Irvine Valley College Friday morning.
Idaho State 4, Utah State 3
Singles competition
1. BOTES, Louise-Mare (ISU) def. Hannah Jones (USU) 6-4, 5-7, 7-5
2. CVETKOVIC, Hristina (ISU) def. Alexandra Taylor (USU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Rhoda Tanui (USU) def. COBURN, Melissa (ISU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Lucy Octave (USU) def. ARKHIPOV, Alexandra (ISU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
5. WALKER, Angela (ISU) def. Gabrielle Dekkers (USU) 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
6. POE, Megan (ISU) def. Annaliese County (USU) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition
1. Hannah Jones/Alexandra Taylor (USU) def. POE, Megan/CVETKOVIC, Hristina (ISU) 6-2
2. Rhoda Tanui/Annaliese County (USU) def. ARKHIPOV, Alexandra/BOTES, Louise-Mare (ISU) 6-2
3. FENSKE, Madison/COBURN, Melissa (ISU) def. Gabrielle Dekkers/Sidnee Lavatai (USU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Utah State 1-3
Idaho State 1-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,4,1,5,6)
