The Idaho women’s tennis team had been undefeated in doubles play through five matches this spring. That streak came to an end on Friday in Spokane at the undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Gonzaga (5-0) claimed early victories at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to earn the important doubles point, which helped them cruise to a 5-2 victory over Idaho (3-3).
Winning the doubles point shifted the momentum into Gonzaga’s favor before a singles match was even played, Idaho coach Mariana Cobra said.
“Had we won the doubles it could’ve been a completely different match, it is even tougher needing to win four singles over three,” Cobra said. “So the momentum was with Gonzaga after the doubles point and I think that definitely helped them get the win.”
Idaho will not have long to dwell on the loss however as the team will be right back on the court on Sunday when they travel to Lewiston to take on Northern Colorado (3-4).
Every team takes their lumps every now and then, luckily for Idaho, this was early in the season against a nonconference foe, Cobra said. The important thing now is they learn from their mistakes, she said.
The match Sunday will be the team’s second Big Sky match. The team lost their prior conference match to Sacramento State.
After the doubles win by the Zags, they won each of the first four singles matches in straight sets. If not for victories by senior Emmie Marx, who won her match at No. 5 singles in straight sets with both of them needing tiebreakers to seal the win, and senior Sophie Vickers, Idaho would have been winless against Gonzaga.
These two matches were the first two matches the Bulldogs have lost all season. They swept each of their previous four opponents, with all of them being in Spokane. Three of which are teams that Idaho will face later this season in Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State.
Cobra said they knew it was going to be tough competing with a team that hadn’t lost a match all season
Sophomore Galina Bykova fell for the first time this season at No. 1 singles to Gonzaga’s Katie Edwards. She was also a part of the lone doubles team to claim a victory along with Marx at No. 1 doubles.
“We didn’t quite compete like we’d have liked, but the positive thing was to get that one out of the way We can learn from it and try and compete better the next time we go out on Sunday,” Cobra said.
Joshua Gamez can be reached at [email protected]