POCATELLO, Idaho – The Bengals women's tennis team opened up Big Sky Conference play on Saturday as they took on the University of Montana Griz at home. The Bengals took it to the Griz, coming out victorious 5-2, in their first victory over Montana since 2018. The Bengals improve to 5-2 on the season and 1-0 in Big Sky Conference play and stretch their winning streak to five consecutive matches, including three straight against division one opponents. Montana will fall to 3-6 on the year and open conference play 0-1.
"Every conference match this year will be tough, we are in a great conference and we will need to bring it" said Head Coach Gretchen Maloney, and the Bengals sure brought it.
The Bengals secured the doubles matches point as Sol O'Lideadha and Lola O'Lideadha took down their opponents 6-1 in the No. 1 doubles match and Sydney Morris and Megan Lang-Gould secured the victory in the No. 3 doubles match 6-3. In the No. 2 doubles match Hana Cho and Leah Kuruvilla fell in a close battle 4-6.
The Bengals and Griz fought in some close singles matches as Hana Cho fell in the No. 1 singles match in three sets 4-6, 7-6 (6-3), 1-6. In the No. 2 singles match Lola O'Lideadha took care of business against her Griz opponent as she won in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. Sol O'Lideadha was tested in the No. 3 singles match as she lost the first set 3-6, but responded in the clutch as she won the next two sets 6-1 and 7-6 (6-4) and won the matchup. Megan Lang-Gould lost her No. 4 singles matchup 4-6, 4-6. And we saw Leah Kuruvilla in the No. 5 singles match (6-4, 7-5) and Stefanya Shalakhova in the No. 6 singles match (6-4, 6-4) win their matchups in straight sets.
Idaho State will return to the court next week on Thursday, February 23rd as they will be taking on rivals the Idaho Vandals at 1 P.M. in Reed Gym.
