PULLMAN, Wash. - The Eastern Washington University women's tennis team returns home following a 5-2 deficit in today's match (Jan. 30) against Washington State at the Hollingbery Fieldhouse in Pullman, Wash. The Eagles went 0-3 in doubles play but found success in a pair of freshmen in Jennifer Kida and Scout Mathews as they beat their opponents in singles play, but it was not enough as EWU moves to an 0-2 overall record.

"We played with incredible grit and heart today. We worked so hard over the last couple weeks to prepare for these matches and it showed in the way we competed. We challenged ourselves to control the controllables, which primarily is our effort and our energy out there. The team stepped up in an amazing way and left it all out in the court," said head coach Dustin Hinson. "What incredible performances by freshmen Scout Mathews and Jennifer Kida in their singles matches. They showed that they belong at this level and they believed and trusted their game plan. They fought for every point and had the desire it takes to come out on top. Overall I'm very proud of this team and the team-first mentality they bring day in and day out. I'm excited to compete with them in our upcoming matches." 

Mathews, who comes from Honolulu, Hawai'i, along with Kida, the California native, collect their first win as Eastern Eagles as they both defeated their opponents in two rounds at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots.
 
DOUBLES

Michaela Bayerlova/Hikaru Sato def. Louise Waite/Rylee Braeden (6-2)
Fifa Kumhom/Pang Jittakoat def. Renata Gabuzyan/Yasmin Mansouri (6-4)
Melisa Ates/Yang Lee def. Scout Mathews/Jennifer Kida (6-2)
 
SINGLES

Scout Mathews def. Hikaru Sato (6-3, 6-3)
Jennifer Kida def. Fifa Kumhom (6-1, 6-2)
Pang Jittakoat def. Rylee Braeden (6-1, 6-2)
Savanna Ly-Nguyen def. Louise Waite (6-3, 6-2)
Melisa Ates def. Renata Gabuzyan (6-3, 6-1)
Yang Lee def. Yasmin Mansouri (6-3, 1-6, 10-7)
 
EWU's next match was set to host the University of Montana on Jan. 31, but due to COVID-19 concerns in the UM program, it has been canceled and will not be rescheduled this season. 

The Eagles will travel to Seattle, Wash., to face the Washington Huskies on Feb. 12 with the first serve set to begin at 11 a.m. PT.