The Eastern Washington University's women's tennis team fell in a close battle against Big Sky's Southern Utah with SUU winning 4-3. This makes the Eagles 4-11 overall on the season.
"This is a tough one for the team," head coach Dustin Hinson said. "We had a really close doubles point but could not come up with the finishing shots when we needed them. We had nice wins in singles by senior Erin Blessing along with freshman Valentina Sottile and Marta Heinen. The other singes matches were very close and we got a bit too tentative at the end. SUU fought hard for those wins and came through today so credit to them."
In singles, senior Erin Blessing came out on top in the No. 3 spot by winning in a dominant fashion with scores of 6-2, 6-0. The two other EWU athletes to win their matches was freshmen Valentina Sottile (6-1, 6-4) and Marta Heinen (6-1, 6-3).
Junior Janaya Smith competed in the No. 1 spot and had a close battle against Evgenia Marushko. SUU eventually came out on top with scores of 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. In the No. 2 spot was sophomore Faye Worrall where she also fell in a three set match against Mikala Lowrance (3-6, 6-3, 6-3). Junior Rachel Swindell was the other singles competitor and she fell 7-6, 6-2 to Charity Sagiao.
In doubles, Smith and Worrall got the lone win for EWU, defeating their opponent 7-5 in the No. 1 spot. Blessing and Swindell competed at No. 2 doubles and lost in a close 7-6 match. Finishing off doubles was senior Katrina Domingo and Sottile in the No. 3 spot, losing 6-2.
The Eagles will continue Big Sky competition this weekend at home on April 2 against Sacramento State. Matches will start at 10 a.m.
Southern Utah 4, Eastern Washington 3
Singles Results
1. MARUSHKO, Evgenia (SUU) def. SMITH, Janaya (EWU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
2. LOWRANCE, Mikala (SUU) def. WORRALL, Faye (EWU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. BLESSING, Erin (EWU) def. ENRIQUE SCHMIDT,Tere (SUU) 6-2, 6-0
4. SAGIAO, Charity (SUU) def. SWINDELL, Rachel (EWU) 7-6, 6-2
5. SOTTILE, Valentina (EWU) def. STOCKING, Cloe (SUU) 6-1, 6-4
6. HEINEN, Marta (EWU) def. MARTIN LOZANO, Laura (SUU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles Results
1. SMITH, Janaya/WORRALL, Faye (EWU) def. LOWRANCE, Mikala/ENRIQUE SCHMIDT,Tere (SUU) 7-5
2. MARTIN LOZANO, Laura/MARUSHKO, Evgenia (SUU) def. BLESSING, Erin/SWINDELL, Rachel (EWU) 7-6
3. SAGIAO, Charity/STOCKING, Cloe (SUU) def. DOMINGO, Katrina/SOTTILE, Valentina (EWU) 6-2
