Bengals Rally Past Grand Canyon

 
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State women's tennis program pulled off a come from behind victory on Monday afternoon, beating the defending WAC champion Grand Canyon 4-3 at the GCU Tennis Facility in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Bengals trailed 3-1 before the comeback began. Idaho State lost the doubles point and the early point for ISU came when Leah Kuruvilla beat Autum Prudhomme 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5 singles.

The final three Bengal victories came when Alexandra Arkhipov earned a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 win at No. 6 singles. Lola O'Lideadha battled to a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 and Sol O'Lideadha won 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 at No. 4 singles to clinch the Bengal victory.

In Lola's match she was down 5-0 in the third set and saved three match points to win the set and keep the team alive.

"It was an epic college tennis match where we were down 3-1, came back to tie it up at 3-3 and we were able to pull away with it," Idaho State coach Gretchen Maloney said. "Lola had an incredible comeback. We were three match points from the match being over but she was able to turn it around and keep fighting. This will be a match she remembers forever. We learned today it is never over until the last point and to keep fighting no matter what the score is. So proud of Sol for clinching the match for us. It was all about fight, determination and grit today."

The doubles victory for Idaho State came when Arkhipov and Megan Lang-Gould won 6-2 at No. 3 doubles.

The Bengals are 7-3 and play at QUAZ on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and at NAU on March 23 at 11 a.m. The Arizona road trip ends March 24 at Arizona Christian before playing at Sacramento State on March 26.