Women's Tennis | 05/13/2017

STANFORD, Calif.—The Idaho women's tennis team was behind the eight ball from the get go on Saturday. The Vandals only traveled to Stanford with five players and finished the day with just four. No. 7 Stanford did not waste any time, defeating Idaho 4-0, in less than two hours at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.

Idaho (16-8) with just six players on the roster traveled to the first round of the NCAA Tournament absent senior Claire Yang. The Vandals were forced to play short a doubles pair and had to concede the No. 6 singles court.

"We played a really quality team today," head coach Babar Akbar said following the match. "They [Stanford] outplayed us in every department."

Stanford had little difficulty in doubles. The Cardinal, needing just one win to take the point, outplayed the Vandals on both courts. The Vandals No. 1 pair of Marianna Petrei and Lucia Badillos drew the No. 39 team in the country. The pair was able to tie the match three times, the last at 3-3. Taylor Davidson and Emily Arbuthnot would take the final three points to help the Cardinal to the first point of the match.

No. 2 doubles was abandoned with No. 46 Caroline Doyle and Melissa Lord up 5-2 on Jessica Brzozowska and Maria Tavares.

Stanford began singles play with a 2-0 advantage, winning the No. 6 court by forfeit. The Cardinal got up 3-0 when Tavares was forced to withdraw at No. 4. The sophomore was struggling through back issues, noticeably hurting in her doubles match. She was attended to by the Idaho trainer after dropping her first set, 6-0, to No. 90 Caroline Lampl. Tavares got down 2-0 in the second before having to retire.

The No. 5 court was the clincher for the Cardinal. Freshman Shion Watabe squared off against Arbuthnott. Watabe was able to claim two games in the first set, but was held off the scoreboard in the second.

"I think there is a lot that we learned today," Akbar added. "There was a lot that we were exposed to that we will need to work on. I think that is what we will take from today. With some hard work we will be in a good position to return next year."

Stanford was in control of courts No. 1, 2 and 3 at the time of the clincher. The Cardinal did not surrender more than three games on the day. Brzozowska was knotted up at 3-3 in her second set with No. 28 Lord at the No. 2 position when play was called.

The Cardinal advances to the second round on Sunday. They will take on Texas Christian.

DOUBLES
1) No. 39 Arbuthnott/Davidson (STAN) d. Badillos/Petrei (IDAHO) 6-3
2) No. 46 Doyle/Lord (STAN) d. Brzozowska/Tavares (IDAHO) 5-2, abandoned
3) N/A (Idaho forfeit)
Order of Finish: 3, 1

SINGLES
1) No. 38 Caroline Doyle (STAN) led Marianna Petrei (IDAHO) 6-1, 5-2, abandoned
2) No. 28 Melissa Lord (STAN) led Jessica Brzozowska (IDAHO)6-2, 3-3, abandoned
3) No. 54 Taylor Davidson (STAN) led Lucia Badillos (IDAHO) 6-2, 4-2, abandoned
4) No. 90 Caroline Lampl (STAN) d. Maria Tavares (IDAHO) 6-0, 2-0, ret.
5) Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) d. Shion Watabe (IDAHO) 6-2, 6-0
6) N/A Idaho forfeit
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 5