SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The road trip to the Lone Star State proved successful for Eastern Washington women's tennis as the Eagles went 2-0 in San Antonio this week. Eastern defeated Incarnate Word, 4-3, today with three wins in singles and the doubles point. EWU improves to 3-3 this season and two consecutive match wins. 

"I think we really are building some strong confidence and belief from this trip down here in Texas and in the outdoors against a couple of good teams," head coach Dustin Hinson said. "It was huge to come out on top with the doubles point early and it turned out to be a huge point. We won nicely at No. 3, but lost at No. 1 so it came down to No. 2. We faced a match point in the tiebreaker and [Anait Arutiunian and Sara Vasic] came through, got the point and ended up winning the match. It was huge for them to stay in and fight through the pressure to come out on top with the point."

After dropping the first doubles match, Eastern rallied to win at No. 2 and 3 to win the point and go up 1-0 in the match. Maria Lopez and Leandra Nizetic cruised to a 6-3 win at No. 3 to even the doubles score. Anait Arutiunian and Sara Vasic then secured the point with an 8-6 win in the tiebreaker at No. 2. 

"It was a huge battle in singles, and we were able to compete, top-to-bottom. Even though we lost some of those matches, it was a really good fight and great effort," Hinson explained. Everyone believed they could win from start to finish, regardless of the result. All those elements are really good to see at this point in the season. I'm happy with our court demeanor and positive energy."

Singles was a back-and-forth contest, with Zoe Pradel starting off with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3. Olivia Marais put EWU up 3-1 in the match after Alexandra Paule Jacqueline Millie retired at No. 6. 

The Cardinals then tied the match up at three with wins at No. 5 and No. 1. 

At No. 2, Nizetic was in battle with Ine Lamprecht, with Nizetic taking the first set 6-4. Lamprecht won set two, 7-5, and the match was tied. In set three, Nizetic clinched the match for the Eagles, winning 6-4. 

"It was three-all on the team score, and it came down to the last match, which was Leandra on No. 2.," Hinson explained. "It was a battle in the third set that went back-and-forth. She did a great job to play her game all the way through the match, especially in pressure situations. We're excited about coming home and facing some more matches back indoors."

Results
Singles
No. 1 Estefania Gonzalez (UIW) def. Anait Arutiunian (EWU) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 Leandra Nizetic (EWU) def. Ine Lamprecht (UIW) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
No. 3 Zoe Pradel (EWU) def. Luciana Paez Hernandez (UIW) 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 Amelie Montalvo (UIW) def. Veronika Gayevyk (EWU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
No. 5 Victoria Jordana Salcedo Franklin (UIW) def. Aneliss Zamfirescu (EWU) 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 Olivia Marais (EWU) def. Alexandra Paule Jacqueline Mille (UIW) 2-6, 6-4 retired 
No. 7 Maria Lopez (EWU) def. McKenzy Byfield (UIW) 5-7, 6-1 (10-8)*

Doubles
No. 1 Estefania Gonzalez / Ine Lamprecht (UIW) def. Olivia Marais / Zoe Pradel (EWU) 6-1
No. 2 Anait Arutiunian / Sara Vasic (EWU) def. Alexandra Paule Jacqueline Mille / Victoria Jordana Salcedo Franklin (UIW) 7-6 (8-6)
No. 3 Maria Lopez / Leandra Nizetic (EWU) def. Luciana Paez Hernandez / Amelie Montalvo (UIW) 6-3

*-Exhibition, did not count towards team score

Up Next
Eastern Washington stays in San Antonio and takes on Incarnate Word tomorrow at 1 p.m.
 

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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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