BOISE, Idaho – The Bengals women's tennis team played two matches in Boise, Idaho on Thursday and Friday of this week. The first match was on Thursday vs the hosts, Boise State University, and the second match on Friday, was against the Washington State Cougars.
Picking up in the doubles matches in the Bengals' match vs Boise State, the first duo to wrap up their match for ISU was
Sydney Morris and
Hana Cho playing in the #3 doubles spot, defeating Kershner/Shah, 6.2. In the #2 doubles match was
Asem Shoybek and
Stefanya Shalakhova who fell to Ernstberger/Heffernan 4-6. As it came down to the final doubles match, Sol and
Lola O'Lideadha were looking for a big win for Idaho State. Unfortunately, the twins were unable to come out on top, as they fell to Discenza/Marruffo in a tiebreaker 6-7 (3-7), and Boise State would head into singles play up on Idaho State 1-0.
As the Bengals looked to spark a comeback in singles play, they could not get it going. As
Asem Shoybek,
Stefanya Shalakhova, and
Sydney Morris all fell in straight sets, allowing Boise State to clinch the team victory in the match. With the match winner solidified Idaho State was still playing with pride. We saw
Lola O'Lideadha and reigning Big Sky Player of the Week,
Hana Cho, take the win in their singles matches in straight sets, as well as
Sol O'Lideadha defeat her matchup in the #3 singles match in three sets 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-6). Following
Sol O'Lideadha's match the Bengals would come out just short of victory, falling 3-4 to the Broncos.
Idaho State would have to shake this tough loss off because the very next morning they had another difficult task at hand, taking on the undefeated Washington State Cougars.
The Cougars came out of the gates strong in this one, as the Bengals were swept in the doubles matches,
Hana Cho and
Sydney Morris would end up being the closest match out of the three doubles, as they would fall in the #3 doubles match 6-7.
In singles play the Bengals looked to generate a spark to make a comeback, but were unable to do so.
Hana Cho,
Sol O'Lideadha, and
Olivia Mikkelson would all fall in straight sets, allowing the Cougars to clinch the team win in the match. However, as the Bengals do, they kept fighting.
Lola O'Lideadha would pick up a win in the #3 singles match in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 10-5, and in her first action of the season,
Megan Lang-Gould, would earn a tough come from behind win 3-6, 6-3, 10-6.
Asem Shoybek in the #2 singles match took her matchup to three sets, but could not pull out the win, falling 6-3, 3-6, 3-6. The Bengals would fall to the Cougars 2-5.
The Bengals will be at home next weekend for their first home matches of the season. Their first will be on Saturday, February 3
rd at 1 PM vs Colorado Mesa University, and the second will be Sunday, February 4
th at 5 PM.
