PULLMAN, Wash. ? The University of Idaho women's tennis team went 2-1 to open the season during the weekend.
The Vandals disposed of Air Force and Lewis and Clark State College (LCSC) on Sunday but were unable to overcome No. 44 Washington State in Pullman on Saturday. Idaho snuck past Air Force 4-3 in the morning on Sunday before traveling to Lewiston to dispatch of Lewis and Clark State College 6-1.
Doubles got the ball rolling for the Vandals against Air Force with a sweep. Maria Perevoshchikova, Silvia Irimescu and Basia Maciocha earned singles victories for Idaho to seal the 4-3 win.
“We competed very well against Air Force,” University of Idaho women's tennis head coach Tyler Neill said. “The match came down to Barbara Maciocha's match and she pulled out a tough victory. They were a tough team with a lot of depth.”
The victory was the first of the season for Idaho and the team persevered after a difficult opening match against Washington State.
“We had sustained a few injuries in the Washington State match, which made our victory against Air Force even more impressive,” Neill said. “I was impressed with our ability to come back twelve hours after playing Washington State the night before and still bring a lot of energy to the court.”
The Vandals carried that momentum into their match against LCSC Sunday evening brushing aside a spirited Warriors team 6-1.
“I was happy with our match against LCSC,” Neill said. “We had many players step up and play well against an LCSC team that fought as hard as any team could. However, I think our team matched their intensity and we competed well at every position.”
Idaho won five singles matches against LCSC with Irimescu, Maciocha, Alexandra Ulesanu, Jana Siwa, and Natalie Kirch all registering straight set victories. In doubles, the teams of Yvette Ly and Ulesanu and Annamaria Gould and Justine Textor notched wins. Freshman Gould and sophomore Textor's win came in their first spring matches at Idaho.
The Vandals opened the season Saturday evening with a competitive but ultimately disappointing 6-1 loss to Washington State.
“Although I was disappointed with the overall result, I thought we competed pretty well,” Neill said. “Washington State is a very nationally ranked team that is consistently tough.”
Junior Alexsandra Ulesanu led the charge for Idaho notching a three set victory over Marina Nicolas in the number five spot. Earlier in the evening, Ulesanu partnered with Yvette Ly to pick up an 8-5 win over the Nicolas/Jessica Gomes pairing in the number three doubles slot.
“Alexandra Ulesanu had a very good day, winning in both singles and doubles,” Neill said. “I was impressed with her ability to fight back and win a close singles match.”
Idaho's record now stands at 2-1 with a trip to Oregon awaiting the Vandals next weekend. The road trip features matches against the University of Oregon, Portland State University and the University of Houston.
“Overall for the weekend, I am happy with our results,” Neill said. “We sustained some injuries, so to come out of the weekend with two wins is nice. Hopefully we can use the next few days to heal up before heading to Portland for four more matches this coming weekend.”
University of Idaho vs. Washington State University
January 17, 2009
Doubles
1. Kamendova/Cekic (WSU) def. Perevoshchikova/Cohen (UI) - 8-5
2. Fournier/Oprea (WSU) def. Irimescu/Maciocha (UI) - 8-3
3. Ly/Ulesanu (UI) def. Gomez/Nicolas (WSU) - 8-5
Singles
1. Ekaterina Kamendova (WSU) def. Silvia Irimescu (UI) - 6-2,6-2
2. Elisabeth Fournier (WSU) def. Maria Perevoshchikova (UI) - 6-2,6-2
3. Ioana Oprea (WSU) def. Sophya Korotaeva (UI) - 6-1,6-0
4. Aleksandra Cekic (WSU) def. Barbara Maciocha (UI) - 6-2,6-1
5. Alexandra Ulesanu (UI) def. Marina Nicolas (WSU) - 6-7,6-4,10-8
6. Jessica Gomez (WSU) def. Yvette Ly (UI) - 6-0.6-1
Final: Washington State University 6 - University of Idaho 1
University of Idaho vs. U.S. Air Force Academy
January 18, 2009
Doubles
1. Perevoshchikova/Cohen (UI) def. Abayan/Rudico (AFA) - 8-5
2. Irimescu/Maciocha (UI) def. Chemel/Monreal (AFA) - 8-5
3. Ly/Ulesanu (UI) def. Cassman/Smoke (AFA) - 8-6
Singles
1. Maria Perevoshchikova (UI) def. Christine Abayan (AFA) - 6-2,6-2
2. Silvia Irimescu (UI) def. Allie Chermel (AFA) - 6-4,6-3
3. Christen Monreal (AFA) def. Alexandra Ulesanu (UI) - 6-1,6-2
4. Tahlia Smoke (AFA) def. Daniela Cohen (UI) - 6-4,6-0
5. Barbara Maciocha (UI) def. Sarah Cassman (AFA) - 6-4,6-2
6. Katrina Eromin (AFA) def. Yvette Ly (UI) - 6-0,6-2
Final: University of Idaho 4 - U.S. Air Force Academy 3
University of Idaho vs. Lewis-Clark State College
January 18, 2009
Doubles
1. Chan/Marsela (LCSC) def. Irimescu/Maciocha (UI) - 8-4
2. Ly/Ulesanu (UI) def. Smedley/Moorhead (LCSC) - 8-3
3. Gould/Textor (UI) def. Baishakhi/Gay (LCSC) - 8-2
Singles
1. Silvia Irimescu (UI) def. Jamie Chan (LCSC) - 6-4,6-4
2. Alexandra Ulesanu (UI) def. Shefat Baishakhi (LCSC) - 6-0,6-2
3. Barbara Maciocha (UI) def. Katharina Marsela (LCSC) - 6-2,6-2
4. Jana Siwa (UI) def. Rilee Moorhead (LCSC) - 6-4,6-2
5. Natalie Kirch (UI) def. Alyson Peck (LCSC) - 6-3,6-3
6. Megan Smedley (LCSC) def. Annamaria Gould (UI) - 7-5,4-6,10-8
Final: University of Idaho 6 - Lewis-Clark State College 1
