MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho women's tennis team fought through a three-point deficit to come from behind and secure a 4-3 victory over Montana inside the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on Sunday afternoon.
The Vandals (7-5, 1-1 BSC) were down early after dropping the match's doubles point and the first two singles matches to the Grizzlies (3-10, 2-1 BSC). Idaho pulled out clutch wins in singles from
Diana Khaydarshina,
Ida Johansson, and
Valentina Rodas and a clinching effort from freshman
Naomi Schraeder to help the Vandals defend their home court on Senior Day.
Idaho found itself down early to Montana with doubles victories on courts one and three to put the Griz up 1-0 heading into singles play. UM carried its momentum over with a pair of wins on courts one and two.
Selin Sepken dropped her match 6-0, 6-3 at the No. 1 position while
Lena Beckx battled in a three-set loss (6-3, 1-6, 6-2) at No. 2 to give Montana a 3-0 lead.
Khaydarshina would get Idaho on the board with a come-from-behind effort, winning on court three by a score of 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Shortly after, Idaho made it a 3-2 deficit following a straight-set victory from Johansson on court four. The native of Sweden won by way of tiebreak in the first set before adding a 7-5 win in the second to continue the Vandals' success.
Idaho now looked to a pair of underclassmen to finish the job and sweep the remaining two matches.
Rodas was leaned on first to keep Idaho alive and the sophomore from Columbia delivered. After losing 3-6 in the first, Rodas rallied to win 6-2, 7-5 at the No. 5 spot.
The pressure moved over to a duel between Schraeder and Rosie Sterk at No. 6 to decide the match. The freshman Schraeder showed off her clutch factor by earning a 6-4, 6-2 result for a team-best eighth singles win this season.
Following the conclusion of the match, head coach
Sanne Louwers honored seniors
Saffron Dowse and
Rachelle Starreveld for their contributions to making Idaho one of the top schools in the Big Sky to play college tennis.
Up Next
Idaho will start a stretch of four straight conference road matches next week with a meeting against Eastern Washington. First serve is scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 23 at 11 a.m. in Cheney.
University of Idaho 4, Montana 3
Singles competition
1. MURPHY, Hailey (UM) def.
Selin Sepken (UIDAHOWT) 6-0, 6-3
2. PHILLIPS, Kelsey (UM) def.
Lena Beckx (UIDAHOWT) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
3.
Diana Khaydarshina (UIDAHOWT) def. HAUGEN, Grace (UM) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
4.
Ida Johansson (UIDAHOWT) def. GOHEEN, Maria (UM) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
5.
Valentina Rodas (UIDAHOWT) def. OOSTERBAAN, Olivia (UM) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
6.
Naomi Schraeder (UIDAHOWT) def. STERK, Rosie (UM) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. MURPHY, Hailey/PHILLIPS, Kelsey (UM) def.
Valentina Rodas/
Naomi Schraeder (UIDAHOWT) 6-3
2.
Ida Johansson/
Saffron Dowse (UIDAHOWT) def. OOSTERBAAN, Olivia/GOHEEN, Maria (UM) 6-3
3. HAUGEN, Grace/STERK, Rosie (UM) def.
Lena Beckx/
Rachelle Starreveld (UIDAHOWT) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,5,6)
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