Box Score PHOENIX— Junior Maggie Chen delivers a three-setter for the ages and clinches the Vandals' 4-3 win over Weber State (16-8, 8-2 Big Sky) in the Big Sky semifinals Friday afternoon.
 
With the win, Idaho (13-7, 8-2 Big Sky) heads to its fourth-straight meeting with Northern Arizona (14-8, 9-1 Big Sky) in the Big Sky Conference title match. The match is slated for Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the Phoenix Tennis Center.

Setting the tone early, the Vandals secured its lead with a crucial doubles point to move out to 1-0 ahead of singles action.

The Wildcats recovered by stealing the lead after wins on court five and four. Megan Lombardi routed Marta Magalhaes in straight set at singles No. 5, while and Anna Stefani could not get past Cali Fuller in her loss on court four. Idaho found itself down, 2-1 before Senior Marianna knocked out Pei-Hsuan Kuo 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. Weber State regained the lead, 3-2, at court three when Sara Parker used the third set to pick off Laura Spataro in a lengthy match.

Maria Tavares posted a three-set victory at singles No. 2 to tie the score once again at 3-3. A trip to the Championship match all came down to singles No. 6 Maggie Chen, who had already played two sets (7-5, 4-6). With one set under her belt and all eyes on her, Chen found her second wind and shutout the Wildcats' Morgan Dickason, 6-0, keeping the Vandals alive for one more match.

With her singles win today, Petrei recorded her 94th win and now holds the program record for most career wins in singles play. The Udine, Italy native is currently 94-24 on her career.
 
QUOTE: Babar Akbar
"Today was a good match against a very good team. I believe we played a competitive and fun match, where everybody gave their all. The doubles point was very important, and it helped us get through the rest of the match."

"We are now looking forward and getting ready for tomorrow's match. Tomorrow is going to be a big day."

Tennis Match Results
#3 Weber State vs #2 Idaho
4/26/2019 at Phoenix, Ariz.
(Phoenix Tennis Center)
 
#2 Idaho 4, #3 Weber State 3
 
Singles
1.Marianna Petrei (IDAHO) def. KUO, Pei-Hsuan (WSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
2. Maria Tavares (IDAHO) def. UKITA, Yuuna (WSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
3. PARKER, Sara (WSU) def. Laura Spataro (IDAHO) 2-6, 6-1, 7-5
4. FULLER, Cali (WSU) def. Anna Stefani (IDAHO) 6-1, 6-4
5. LOMBARDI, Megan (WSU) def. Marta Magalhães (IDAHO) 6-1, 6-2
6. Maggie Chen (IDAHO) def. DICKASON, Morgan (WSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-0
 
Doubles
1. PETREI, Marianna/TAVARES, Maria (IDAHO) def. PARKER, Sara/KUO, Pei-Hsuan (WSU) 6-3
2. UKITA, Yuuna/LOMBARDI, Megan (WSU) def. STEFANI, Anna/MAGALHAES, Marta (IDAHO) 6-3
3. SPATARO, Laura/CHEN, Maggie (IDAHO) def. FULLER, Cali/DICKASON, Morgan (WSU) 6-1
 
Match Notes:
#3 Weber State 16-8, 8-2 BSC
#2 Idaho 13-7, 8-2 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,4,1,3,2,6)
Big Sky Semifinal
T-3:30 A-15