BOISE, Idaho - The Broncos would be too much for the Eagles in Boise, as BSU would defeat EWU 7-0. After their first of two matches in Boise this weekend, Eastern dropped to 1-5 on the season, while Boise State improved to 7-0.
The Eagles played in their fifth straight match away from home. The two met for their 21st all-time meeting, with the Broncos Increasing their lead in the series 18-3 over the Eagles. The last time the two teams met, Eastern nearly pulled off the upset, but fell 3-4 to Boise State
In the doubles No. 1 position, for the fifth time this season the Eagles would see Isabella Foshee and Kenzington Mann. The two would face off against Maya Dutta and Zdena Safarova from the Broncos. The Eagles would steal one game late, but would ultimately fall 6-1.
Leandra Nizetic and Anait Arutiunian would represent the Eagles in the No. 2 doubles slot for the first time this season. Arutiunian has now had five different doubles partners this season, with Nizetic in her third different doubles partner this season. The two would fall behind early 5-1, but would be able to win two games to bring it to a 5-3 deficit before falling 6-3.
Sara Vasic and Zoe Pradel would each make their third appearance in doubles this season in the No. 3 position, and would pair up for the second time this season. The two would see an early 1-1 tie, and would be in a tight match behind 5-3 before the Broncos clinched the doubles point.
"I thought we made some good adjustments in doubles. Boise State plays really aggresive, but I think our No.2 and No. 3 made those adjsutments to compete later in those matches," head coach Dustin Hinson said.
Isabella Foshee would take the No. 1 singles position for Eagles for the fourth time this season. The first set would see an early 2-2 tie, but then a 4-2 lead for Foshee. Zdena Safarova would then roar back and win four straight to take the first set 6-4. Foshee would lose the first game in the second set, but would rattle off five straight to take the 5-1 lead. Safarova would not go away and win the next two, but Foshee would pull the set out 6-3 to force a tiebreaker. Safarova would take the 3-0 lead in the tiebreaker, but Foshee would cut the deficit 6-5. Safarova would never trail and win the last four to take the tiebreaker 10-6 and win the dual-match. It would be Foshee's third dual-match this season with a 10-point tiebreaker.
The No. 2 singles for the Eagles, Anait Arutiunian would make her fourth appearance from that position this season. Arutiunian struggled to get the ball rolling, with Maya Dutta winning the dual-match 6-0 and 6-2.
The junior Leandra Nizetic would be in a familiar spot in the No. 3 position for the sixth time this season. Bhakti Shah would take the first set 6-2. Nizetic would win the first game and would control the set with a 3-1 lead. Nizetic would continue that momentum and cruise to a 6-2 second set win and force a tiebreaker. Shah would jump out to a 4-1 and then an 8-2 lead. Nizetic would win four of the next five to bring it within three, but Shah would be able to clinch the victory 10-6. The match was Nizetic's first dual-match 10-point tiebreaker this season.
The senior Kenzington Mann would represent the Eagles in the No. 4 position for the third time this season. Mann would jump out to a 3-2 lead over Paula Schaefer in the first set. Schaefer would come back to take a 4-3 lead, and carry that momentum and win the first set 6-4. It would continue in the second set with Schaefer taking five of the last seven to win the second set 6-2.
Kelly Arends would make her third appearance from the No. 5 position this season. Arends fell 6-0 in the first set, but would respond well in the second. Falling behind 2-0, Arends would win four of the next five to take the 4-3 lead. Ariadna Ginesta Briones from the Broncos would however win the next two of three to make it 5-5, and ultimately win the dual-match with a 7-5 second set victory.
Olivia Marais the freshman would round out the singles in the No. 6 position for the third time this season. Marais would fall behind 4-0 early, but would steal two of the next four. Marais would start the second set with a 2-0 lead, but Masa Viriant would roar back and win five straight.
"I think in the singles would put up a very good fight and played tough. It took some of us a set to really figure our our opponent, which is fine sometimes. Tennis is a long game, here it is two sets and we made some good adjustments and were able to get a rhythm after those tough first sets. The girls were really challenged and needed some of that warrior mentality to stay in the match. We learned a lot from today, and it will only help us as we move forward," Hinson said.
Up Next
Eastern will stay in Boise and face-off against the College of Idaho Saturday, February 15th at 9 am.
2025 Eastern Washington Women's Tennis
February 14, 2025
Boise State def. Eastern Washington 7-0
Boise, Idaho
DOUBLES
No. 1 Maya Dutta/Zdena Safarova (BSU) def. Isabella Foshee/Kenzington Mann (EWU) 6-1
No. 2 Ryan Kershner/Lorelyz Marruffo (BSU) def. Leandra Nizetic/Anait Arutiunian (EWU) 6-3
No. 3 Bhakti Shah/Paula Schaefer (BSU) vs. Zoe Pradel/Sara Vasic (EWU) DNF
Order of finish (1,2)
SINGLES
No. 1 Zdena Safarova (BSU) def. Isabella Foshee (EWU) 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5)
No. 2 Maya Dutta (BSU) def. Anait Arutiunian (EWU) 6-0, 6-2
No. 3 Bhakti Shah (BSU) def. Leandra Nizetic (EWU) 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-6)
No. 4 Paula Schaefer (BSU) def. Kenzington Mann (EWU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 Adrian Ginesta Briones (BSU) def. Kelly Arends (EWU) 6-0, 7-5
No. 6 Masa Viriant (BSU) def. Olivia Marais (EWU) 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: (2,4,6,5,1,3)
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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