Vandals hang tough with top-50 team in Fresno
A road trip to California proved troublesome for the Vandals as they dropped two matches at Cal Poly and Fresno State respectively.
losses dropped Idaho to 8-6 on the season but they maintain a strong 5-1 record in Big Sky play.
The Vandals will look to end this two-match losing streak Thursday when they will travel to Lewiston to take on the No. 35 Arizona Wildcats in a nonconference match.
Idaho, who had dominated on the doubles side for much of the season, dropped the doubles point in both matches. In the first of the two matches, the loss on the doubles side proved to be the deciding factor as Cal Poly as the Mustangs won the match 4-3.
Idaho had a similar result on Saturday afternoon as they traveled to Fresno to take on No. 42 Fresno State.
In a matchup between former-conference opponents, the Vandals claimed a victory in the first doubles match to finish, but FSU was able to claim the decisive doubles point thanks to victories in the next two doubles contests.
It carried that momentum onto the singles side with victories in each of the first three singles matches before Idaho was able to claim two victories.
Among the victories for FSU one came from the No. 45 ranked player in the country, Sophie Watts. Despite the gaudy ranking, Idaho’s Emmie Marx didn’t back down. She fell in straight sets but she fought hard to the last point, Idaho coach Mariana Cobra said.
Along with Marx’s eye-opening performance against a top player, Galina Bykova also shined over the weekend at no. 1 singles, Cobra said.
In the loss on Saturday, the Vandals had to play in extreme heat for the first time this season.
Despite the loss to the Bulldogs, Idaho coach Mariana Cobra said the team has nothing to be ashamed of. They competed with one of the best teams and programs in the country and they continue to make strides as team, she said.
Joshua Gamez can be reached at [email protected]