PULLMAN, Wash.—The Vandal women's tennis team opened Big Sky Conference play with a decisive 5-2 win on Sunday over Montana State.
Idaho (1-1) fell behind early to the Bobcats to start the morning. Montana State's Jessica Brycki and Angelina Phillppova opened up doubles play with a 6-1 win over Idaho's Belen Barcenilla and Maria Tavares. Idaho got even with a 6-2 win from Ana Batiri and Lucia Badillos on the No. 3 court. The Bobcats took the point with a 6-4 win in No. 2 doubles.
“We showed our toughness today,” head coach Mariana Cobra explained. “We did not get the doubles point, despite our strong efforts. It was good to see the team fight back in singles and continue to play hard the entire match.
Freshman Marianna Petrei made quick work of MSU's Laura Middel to open singles play on the No. 1 court. She earned Idaho's first point of the day with a 6-1, 6-1 win, her first of the season. Barcenilla broke the tie with a 7-5, 6-2 win on the No. 3 court. Montana State fought back and tied the match, 2-2, winning on the No. 4 court.
Tavares and MSU's Naomi Holopainen fought back and forth in No. 2 singles. Halopainen took the first set, 7-5. Tavares battled back with a strong 6-4 showing in the second. The freshman was able to win the point for Idaho, taking the third set, 6-4.
Badillos earned the clinching point for the Vandals with her 6-2, 6-2 win on the No. 5 court. Senior Rita Bermudez closed out the day with a 6-1, 6-4 win in the No. 6 position.
The Vandals have some time off between matches. The team will make the trip to Eugene, Ore., to take on No. 62 Oregon on Jan. 30.
RESULTS
Doubles
1) Jessica Brycki/Angelina Phillippova def. Belen Barcenilla/Maria Tavares (UI), 6-1
2) Laura Middel/Naomi Holopainen def. Claire Yang/Rita Bermudez (UI), 6-4
3) Ana Batiri/Lucia Badillos (UI) def. Molly Crum/ Linda Vink (MSU), 6-2
Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1) Marianna Petrei (UI) def. Laura Middel (MSU), 6-1, 6-1
2) Maria Tavares (UI) def. Naomi Halopainen (MSU), 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
3) Belen Barcenilla (UI) def. Jessica Brycki (MSU), 7-5, 6-2
4) Angelina Phillippova (MSU) def. Ana Batiri (UI), 6-1, 7-6(2)
5) Lucia Badillos (UI) def. Shelby Cerkovnik (MSU), 6-2, 6-2
6) Rita Bermudez (UI) def. Linda Vink (MSU), 6-1, 6-4
Finish: 1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6
