USAFA, Colorado – The Idaho State women's tennis team wrapped up a successful weekend at the ITA Bedford Cup in the Mountains, hosted by the U.S. Air Force Academy. The tournament field included Air Force, Colorado, Colorado State, Denver, Idaho, Idaho State, New Mexico, Texas Tech, Utah State, and Wyoming. The Bengals battled across multiple doubles and singles flights, highlighted by freshman Evelina Zhuk's undefeated run to capture the Echo Draw championship.
Head coach Gretchen Maloney said she was impressed with how her team competed against such a deep field.
"What a great tournament for Idaho State! Going into this tournament we were a little bit on the underdog side as far as strength, but the girls really pulled out some great wins and matches against some formidable opponents," Maloney said.
Doubles Recap
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Stefanya Shalakhova/Asem Shoybek earned a pair of wins in the Green Draw, defeating Colorado State's Haber/Tozin (7-5) and Wyoming's Abriola/Ceinos (6-4).
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Victoria Grymalska/Zhuk picked up a doubles victory in the Red Draw, topping Colorado State in their opener before bowing out against Wyoming.
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Sydney Morris/Emmy Richards secured a 6-4 doubles win over Colorado State in the Red Draw.
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Millie Day/Veronika Zarovna competed in both the Blue and Green Draws, pushing Air Force before dropping their opening match.
Singles – Flight Alpha
Singles – Flight Bravo
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Asem Shoybek lost her opening match to Wyoming's Kochelaevskaia, 6-3, 6-4.
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Millie Day earned Idaho State's first singles victory of the tournament, outlasting Texas Tech's Logvin (6-4, 3-6, 7-5) before falling to Air Force's Kang (7-5, 6-4).
Singles – Flight Charley
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Sydney Morris battled in her opening match but dropped a three-setter to Colorado's Van Der Werff, 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 4-6.
Singles – Flight Delta
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Emmy Richards posted a strong run, defeating Denver's Hansen 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 and Colorado's Ikedo (6-2, 6-2) to reach the quarterfinals. She was stopped by Air Force's Rhoades (7-5, 6-2). Richards finished 2-1 in the flight.
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Veronika Zarovna defeated Denver's Jaiani (6-1, 2-6, 6-3) in her opener before falling to New Mexico's Corley (6-2, 6-3).
Singles – Flight Echo
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Evelina Zhuk dominated the Echo Draw, going 4-0 with wins over Colorado's Gretsch (6-3, 7-5), Air Force's Holguin (6-3, 6-2), Air Force's Limbago (6-7, 7-6, [10-5]), and Colorado State's Tozin (6-4, 6-3). Zhuk captured the Echo Draw Championship with her victory on Sunday.
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Victoria Grymalska opened with a loss to Denver's Nguyen (2-6, 4-6) before rebounding in the consolation bracket. She defeated Wyoming's Abriola (ret.) and then outlasted New Mexico's Vandeputte in a super tiebreak (7-6 [8-6], 1-6, [10-7]) to advance. Grymalska closed her tournament with a loss to New Mexico's Vivica Corley (6-2, 6-2), finishing 2-2 overall.
Maloney highlighted the significance of Zhuk's win for the program.
"Evelina won her bracket and came home with the trophy," Maloney said. "We love this tournament and I feel like we get such great growth as a team."
Up Next
The Bengals continue their fall season at the Boise State Fall Invitational, Sept. 26–28, before traveling to BYU for the ITA Mountain Regional Tournament in Provo, UT, Oct. 7-11.
