CHENEY, Wash. - The Eagles started their season off with a bang. Eastern Washington (1-0) defended their home court in the 4-3 win over the visiting UC Davis Aggies (0-2). This is the first win for the Eagles over the Aggies in their third all-time meeting.
The last two met in 2016 in Davis, California with the Aggies pulling out the 5-2 victory over the Eagles. Eastern recorded a win their home opener for the first time since 2022 when they defeated Seattle 5-2.
Head coach Dustin Hinson was super pleased with his team and their effort on the court.
"UC Davis is a good program. We've definitely played them a few times down in California. It was nice to get them here at home, defend our home court, and start the season with a win over a quality opponent. It is awesome that the girls get a feel of that result and for all the hard work that they've been putting in and get that feeling of success on the court."
Hinson is now 5-8 in season openers during his Eagle tenure.
The day would start with the Eagles recording a victory in two of the three doubles match ups, and secure the first point of the day. No.1 and No. 2 doubles would pull out the victories for EWU.
No.1 doubles Isabella Foshee and Kenzington Mann would cruise to an impressive 6-2 victory.
The other two matches would be a grind.
No.3 doubles Anait Arutiunian and Olivia Marais would see Marais compete in her first spring competition. The two would battle, but fall 6-4 and leave the point in the hands of the No. 2 doubles.
It would come down to the No.2 doubles
Leandra Nizetic and
Kelly Arends with the Eagles falling behind early. The two would keep grinding away, and would be able to turn the momentum to win the deciding match 7-6 (3).
"With the doubles, there was just no quit that we showed as a team when things got tough. We were down 0-3 in the No.2 doubles, both 0-3 in the set and then also 0-3 in the tiebreaker. Lea and Kelly did a great job of just staying composed and just knowing that you know there's no quit. We gotta just keep going and find a way to come out on top and turn the tide which they did."
In the singles, the Eagles would compete well across the board.
Senior Isabella Foshee led the team in the fall recording five singles wins, and would pick up where she left off. Foshee would win her No. 1 match up in three sets: 7-5, 4-6, and 6-1
In the No. 6 spot, freshman Olivia Marais would fall behind early 6-0, but would compete and gain confidence in the second set and force a tiebreaker.
"In the No.6 singles match with Olivia, when she lost, the easy thing to do is say I just don't have it today and let things go and try to get off the court as quick as possible. She fought back, lost a close tiebreak in the second, but that was just kind of the theme for the day that I really love. Everyone did a great job of just not quitting and staying with it."
With it tied 3-3, and needing a win in the final singles match, it would come down to the senior Kelly Arends in the No.5 single spot. Arends would be able to pull through for the Eagles with the win (6-3, 6-4), and clinch the 4-3 victory in the season opener.
"To split the singles matches to win it, No. 1, No. 3 and No.5 was great, but I thought everybody fought hard and played well. Very pleased with the start, and looking forward to continuing to work hard for next weekend."
EWU will be on the road next week in their first of eight straight road matches. The Eagles will travel to take on Washington State Friday, Jan.17 at 3 pm., and then will take on Gonzaga Sunday, Jan.19 at 3 pm.
2025 Eastern Washington Women's Tennis
January 12, 2025
Eastern Washington def. UC Davis 4-3
Cheney, Wash.
DOUBLES
No. 1 Isabella Foshee/Kenzington Mann (EWU) def. Mika Ikemori/Isabella Bringas (UC Davis) 6-2
No. 2 Leandra Nizetic /Kelly Arends (EWU) def. Solia Valentine/Polina Marakhtanova (UC Davis) 7-6 (7-3)
No. 3 Claire Galerkin/Kaia Wolfe (UC Davis) def. Anait Arutiunian/Olivia Marais (EWU) 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
SINGLES
No. 1 Isabella Foshee (EWU) def. Mika Ikemori (UC Davis) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
No. 2 Solia Valentine (UC Davis) def. Anait Arutiunian (EWU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 Leandra Nizetic (EWU) def. Maya Youssef (UC Davis) 6-4, 6-3
No. 4 Polina Marakhtanova (UC Davis) def. Kenzington Mann (EWU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
No.5 Kelly Arends (EWU) def. Isabella Bringas (UC Davis) 6-3, 6-4
No.6 Claire Galerkin (UC Davis) def. Olivia Marais (EWU) 6-0, 7-6 (7-4)
Order of Finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 6, 5
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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