LOGAN, Utah – Utah State women's tennis (3-4) posted a 5-2 victory over Grand Canyon (2-5) on Friday afternoon at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.
"That's two wins in a row for us and we feel like we're going in the right direction," said head coach Sean McInerney. "We feel like we're a very good team and we're starting to play to our capabilities. It was nice to be in our home courts again and take care of business. The team energy and our purpose has been much better in the last couple of matches. We're winning as a team and that's the most important thing."
USU won the doubles point as freshman Annaliese County and junior Lucy Octave won, 6-3, at the No. 3 spot, while sophomore Alexandra Pisareva and freshman Sidnee Lavatai clinched the point with a 6-2 win at the No. 2 spot.
In singles play, Pisareva picked up where she left off in doubles by earning the straight-set win on court one, 6-4, 6-2, while junior Hannah Jones won her match at the No. 2 spot, 7-5, 6-2, to make it a 3-0 game. Freshman Gabrielle Dekkers won her first set at the No. 4 spot, 6-3, but lost her final two sets, 6-3, 6-4. Octave had a strong first set win on court three, 6-2, but lost the final two sets, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Lavatai cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at the No. 6 spot to earn the Aggies the win. Junior Rhoda Tanui's match at the No. 5 spot went on as she lost her first set, 6-3, and won the second set, 6-1. Both teams agreed to have the third set play as a super-tiebreaker, where Tanui was victorious, getting the 1-0 (10-8) win.
"It was a good match and going out there, I was a little nervous, but having a team like ours where everyone is really supportive helped out a lot," said Lavatai. "We got the job done, which is the important part and we came together. That's what we've been working on."
Utah State will stay home and face Idaho (1-3) on Monday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m.
Fans can follow USU's women's tennis team on Twitter @USUWomensTennis, on Facebook at UtahStateWomensTennis or on Instagram @USUWomensTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter at @USUAthletics, on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on Instagram at @USUAthletics.
RESULTS
Utah State 5, Grand Canyon 2
Doubles
1. Alexandra Taylor/Gabrielle Dekkers (USU) vs. Occhipinti, Emilia/Buhr, Celina (GCU) 4-4, unfinished
2. Alexandra Pisareva/Sidnee Lavatai (USU) def. Lo Pumo, Martina/Infantino, Ludovica (GCU) 6-2
3. Annaliese County/Lucy Octave (USU) def. Morel, Celia/Prudhomme, Autum (GCU) 6-3
Singles
1. Alexandra Pisareva (USU) def. Occhipinti, Emilia (GCU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Hannah Jones (USU) def. Lo Pumo, Martina (GCU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Morel, Celia (GCU) def. Lucy Octave (USU) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Buhr, Celina (GCU) def. Gabrielle Dekkers (USU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Rhoda Tanui (USU) def. Infantino, Ludovica (GCU) 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-8)
6. Sidnee Lavatai (USU) def. Prudhomme, Autum (GCU) 6-1, 6-2
Match Notes:
Grand Canyon 2-5
Utah State 3-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,2,4,3,6,5)
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