The Idaho women’s tennis team continued its strong road-play this weekend, clinching a Big Sky berth on Friday. The Vandals rolled through Idaho State and Weber State Friday and Saturday, before falling to Utah State on Sunday.
The Vandals secured a spot in the six-team field for the Big Sky tournament after a dominating 6-1 victory over Idaho State (8-9 overall, 5-5 BSC) in Pocatello. Idaho improved to 7-1 in Big Sky play, just one game behind co-leaders Northern Arizona and Montana State.
Sophomore Marainna Petrei won her 18th conference matchup, remaining unbeaten in career Big Sky play with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the No. 1 slot.
Petrei and junior Lucia Badillos took the doubles victory at the No. 1 seed, taking down the Bengals’ Louise-Mare Botes and Huibre-Mare Botes 6-3.
Badillos and sophomore Maria Tavares picked up wins in singles at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions respectively. Badillos put together a 7-6(5), 6-1 win and Tavares picked up a 6-1, 6-2 win to give Idaho a 4-0 lead.
Idaho State’s only win of the day came from Louise-Mare Botes, who outlasted freshman Jessica Brzozowska in three sets, 3-6, 7-6(9), 10-6.
Senior Claire Yang and freshman Shion Watabe finished the day with two singles victories. At the No. 6 position, Yang went 6-2, 6-0 over Kristen Newell and Watabe got back on track after a three-match slump, defeating Angela Walker 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 5 slot.
A day later at Weber State (2-15 overall, 2-6 Big Sky) in Ogden, Utah, Petrei continued her stellar play, defeating Tereza Pilzova 6-1, 6-1 to remain unbeaten in Big Sky play. Petrei and Badillos also took down Sara Parker and Caitlin Herb in doubles, 6-3.
Idaho went five for six on the day, as everyone except Watabe was able to put together a victory. Brzozowska took down Herb in singles at the No. 2 position 6-4, 6-1. Badillos took down Dominique Beauvais 6-3, 6-2 and Tavares and Yang closed out the day with 6-2, 6-2 and 6-3, 6-2 victories at the No. 4 and No. 6 positions.
To close out the road trip, Idaho visited Utah State in Logan, Utah, for a nonconference bout. The Aggies started the day with a 2-0 advantage, as Idaho was unable to fill the No. 6 slot.
Idaho was unable to pick up a match victory on the day, falling at each position. Petrei, Brzozowska and Badillos took incompletes, as Petrei lost 1-6, 2-3, Brzozowska fell 2-6, 0-4, and Badillos, 3-6, 6-1.
After the full weekend, Idaho sits tied for second in the Big Sky with an 8-1 conference record. The Vandals will host Montana and Montana State April 22 and April 23 for the last weekend of play before the conference tournament.
Colton Clark can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @coltonclark95