LOGAN, Utah – Utah State women's tennis (9-10, 0-3 MW) lost a 4-2 decision to Wyoming (12-6, 2-1 MW) on Friday at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.
The Cowgirls opened the match by taking the doubles point, capturing a 6-3 and No. 2 doubles, followed by a 6-4 win at the No. 1 spot.
Utah State quickly squared up the match when freshman Gabrielle Dekkers only dropped one game in each of her sets at No. 4 singles, posting a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Wyoming's Ana Royo. Freshman Annaliese County stretched her match out to three sets at No. 3 singles, taking the second set 6-1 after losing the first 6-2. However, Wyoming's Maria Oreshkina took the match with a 6-3 win in the third, giving the Cowgirls at 2-1 lead.
Sophomore Alexandra Pisareva was also pushed to three sets in No. 1 singles, dropping the first set 6-4, before coming back to take the second, 6-4. Pisareva was able to take the match 6-2, evening the score overall at 2-2. Action in No. 2 singles was also pushed to three sets as junior Lucy Octave lost a close 5-7, 6-4, 4-6 match to Wyoming's Elisa Koonik, giving the Cowgirls a 3-2 lead.
Wyoming was able to wrap up the match with a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 6 singles.
"That was a great battle and I was very proud of my team's effort," head coach Sean McInerney said. "We did a lot of really good things that we have been working on and even though we lost, I feel like we got better today."
Utah State is back in action on Sunday, hosting Colorado State at 10 a.m. (MT) at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.
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
Wyoming 4, Utah State 2
Doubles
1. Tessa van Der Ploeg/Elisa Koonik (WY) def. Alexandra Pisareva/Alexandra Taylor (USU) 6-4
2. Mihaela Kaftanova/Ida Krause (WY) def. Lucy Octave/Annaliese County (USU) 6-3
3. Sidnee Lavatai/Gabrielle Dekkers (USU) vs. Ana Royo/Maria Oreshkina (WY) 6-5, unfinished
Singles
1. Alexandra Pisareva (USU) def. Tessa van Der Ploeg (WY) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. Elisa Koonik (WY) def. Lucy Octave (USU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
3. Maria Oreshkina (WY) def. Annaliese County (USU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
4. Gabrielle Dekkers (USU) def. Ana Royo (WY) 6-1, 6-1
5. Sidnee Lavatai (USU) vs. Ana Fernandez (WY) 3-6, 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
6. Ida Krause (WY) def. Alexandra Taylor (USU) 7-5, 6-2
Match Notes:
Wyoming Cowgirls 12-6, 2-1 MW
Utah State 9-10, 0-3 MW
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (4,3,1,2,6)
-USU-
