Former WAC foe gives UI women all they can handle
Led by strong doubles play and dominant wins by sophomore Galina Bykova and senior Sophie Vickers on the singles side, the Idaho women’s tennis team grabbed a dominating win Saturday afternoon in Seattle.
File Photo by Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Senior Sophie Vickers serves during practice Nov. 5 at the Memorial Gym tennis courts. Vickers and the Idaho women’s team beat Seattle U Saturday in Seattle.
Facing the Seattle U Redhawks, the Vandals improved to 2-1 on the season thanks to a 6-1 victory. At press time, the Vandals were playing their fourth match of the season Monday against Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston.
After gutting out the doubles point against Seattle U thanks to victories by the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams, Idaho rolled through the Seattle U singles lineup, claiming victory in five of the six matches. Three of them were won in straight sets to seal the victory over the former WAC rival Redhawks.
Although the Vandals won in a convincing fashion, Idaho coach Mariana Cobra said it didn’t come easy. She said Seattle U competed from the first point to the last.
“Seattle was a scrappy team, but we were able to gut out a victory, which is going to be huge going forward,” Cobra said.
Cobra said although the Vandals had an impressive showing with a doubles lineup consisting of senior Emmie Marx and sophomore Claire Yang at No. 1, Vickers and Bykova at No. 2 and junior Rita Bermudez and freshman Lucia Badillos at No. 3, they will continue to tinker with the lineup as the year goes on.
Cobra said she doesn’t like to stick with one lineup too much since it is best to keep things fresh and keep everyone on their toes.
Despite UI winning five of the six singles matches, the win didn’t come easy. Seattle U was able to claim a victory in the first singles match as Michelle Lui edged out Badillos. After that, the Vandals tightened up thanks in part to standout No. 1 singles player Bykova, who was able to defeat her opponent in two sets.
Seattle U pushed two matches into a third and decisive set and one other went down to the end before Idaho was able to notch victories and the win.
Joshua Gamez can be reached at [email protected]