EL PASO, Texas – Utah State women's tennis bounced back with a 4-3 victory over UTEP on Sunday afternoon at the El Paso Tennis Club.
"Today we came out with the fight that is required to win a match," said head coach Sean McInerney. "We played an extremely high level doubles point and then fought hard to find the three wins needed to secure the win. It was a good road win for us today, one that we can build off of."
USU (4-6) won the doubles point as freshman Annaliese County and junior Lucy Octave won, 6-1, at the No. 3 spot, while freshman Sidnee Lavatai and sophomore Alexandra Pisareva clinched the point with a 7-6 win at the No. 2 spot.
In singles play, the Miners (4-6) tied things up at one-all after a win at the No. 5. Junior Hannah Jones then captured a 6-4, 6-0 victory at the No. 2 spot to make it a 2-1 Aggies. UTEP would once again tie it up as it won at the No. 3 spot, but USU would win on the next two courts to capture the victory as Lavatai won at the No. 6 spot with a pair of 6-4 victories, and freshman Gabrielle Dekkers clinched the match with a pair of 6-4 victories of her own.
The Aggies will have an week and a half hiatus before heading to BYU (5-2) in Provo on Friday, March 8, at noon.
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 4, UTEP 3
Doubles
1. Kirsten Prelle/Kathleen Percegona (UTEP) def. Hannah Jones/Alexandra Taylor (USU) 7-6
2. Sidnee Lavatai/Alexandra Pisareva (USU) def. Vanessa Valdez/Yvette Van Oijen (UTEP) 7-6
3. Annaliese County/Lucy Octave (USU) def. Erandi Martinez/Rine Nozaki (UTEP) 6-1
Singles
1. Kirsten Prelle (UTEP) def. Alexandra Pisareva (USU) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Hannah Jones (USU) def. Vanessa Valdez (UTEP) 6-4, 6-0
3. Erandi Martinez (UTEP) def. Alexandra Taylor (USU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Gabrielle Dekkers (USU) def. Rine Nozaki (UTEP) 6-4, 6-4
5. Kathleen Percegona (UTEP) def. Annaliese County (USU) 6-4, 6-3
6. Sidnee Lavatai (USU) def. Yvette Van Oijen (UTEP) 6-4, 6-4
Match Notes:
UTEP 3-6
Utah State 4-6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,2,3,6,4,1)
-USU-
