The University of Idaho women’s tennis team (15-5, 0-1 WAC) will play its first home matches of the season this weekend if the weather cooperates. Regardless of location, the matches will prove competitive.
Tony Marcolina | Argonaut Sophomore Almudena Sanz backhands the ball during practice Monday at the Memorial Gym tennis courts. The women will play Nevada today at 4 p.m. and Oregon tomorrow at 11 a.m. at home or in Lewston depending on weather conditions.
Oregon (11-7), Idaho’s Friday competition, is a Pac-12 team that has beaten several ranked teams this year, and Saturday’s Nevada (5-8, 0-1 WAC) match is an important conference match-up.
Idaho coach Daniel Pollock said the Ducks are good, but he has confidence in the Vandals Friday.
“They (Oregon) have unlimited funds and beautiful facilities but I think that’s a team that if we come out and play our best tennis we actually have a shot at beating,” Pollock said.
Sophomore Alejandra Lozano said the Vandals won’t let Oregon’s hype intimidate them.
“I have heard they are a really tough team but I think we have got what we need to beat them,” Lozano said.
The Vandals and the Wolf Pack are both looking for their first WAC win Saturday. Their season records may not look much alike but Pollock said the two teams are actually very similar and he expects a long, grueling match.
“That’s a big match for the conference as well for the (seed) in the conference championship so we will see what happens,” Pollock said.
Idaho doesn’t usually play Nevada and Oregon so the competition features new faces. Freshman Sophie Vickers said unfamiliarity will only make these tough matches that much more interesting.
“But as tough as they will be, as long as we come out and give it all we got and play some good tennis then I think we have a chance,” Vickers said.
Playing in Moscow gives Idaho something of a home advantage since Nevada will drop altitude and Oregon has to come up from near sea level. Plus, Idaho loves playing at home, Pollock said.
“Our courts are really nice, they play great,” Pollock said. “No reason why we can’t play our best tennis on these courts as long as the weather stays nice.”
Pollock said he’ll welcome a more Vandal-friendly crowd than they’ve experienced so far.
“I’m hoping that we can kind of bring a hostile environment to those other teams so we will see how many people we can get out there,” Pollock said.
Vickers said Idaho anticipates fan support.
“It will be good to play our first match outdoors and being at home will make it even better,” Vickers said.
Pollock said two wins this weekend would make him quite happy, though one would be great too.
“You never know with our girls, if they come up with the goods they can beat anyone,” Pollock said.
“Hopefully we get over those early nerves of being the first time in front of our home fans quickly and let’s see what we can do this weekend — let’s take them down.”
Idaho faces Oregon at 4 p.m. Friday and Nevada at 11 a.m. Saturday. Chairs will be set out alongside the courts — the Vandals hope they will be full.
Charles Crowley can be reached at [email protected]