Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's women's tennis team improved to 2-0 on the young season as the Aggies defeated Idaho State 6-1 on Friday at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club.
 
"Idaho State played really well, especially at doubles," said Utah State head coach Sean McInerney. "They came out very aggressive and we had a little bit of a slow start, but what we are trying to work on this year is hanging in there until good things happen. We did a really good job of hanging in there and got the doubles point, which helped going into singles."
 
The Aggies captured the doubles point when sophomore Annaliese County and freshman Zara Ryan defeated the Bengals' Madison Fenske and Melissa Coburn 7-6 in the No. 3 spot.
 
Idaho State (2-3) won the first doubles match in the No. 2 spot when Angela Walker and Alexandra Arkhipov were the first to finish, defeating USU freshmen Carolina Millan and Renata Lombera 6-2. Playing in the No. 1 spot, sophomore Sidnee Lavatai and senior Hannah Jones beat the Bengals' Megan Poe and Hristina Cvetkovic 7-6, setting up the drama at No. 3.
 
"The DNA of this team is we find ways to win and we proved it again today," McInerney said.
 
In singles play, Ryan was the first to clinch a win, taking a straight-sets victory (6-4, 6-3) over Arkhipov in the No. 2 position. In the No. 3 spot, Lombera followed suit with a straight-sets win (6-3, 6-3) of her own over Coburn.
 
Idaho State's lone victory on the day came at the No. 1 spot as Cvetkovic beat Utah State sophomore Gabrielle Dekkers in straight sets (6-3, 7-5). Not long after that, though, County clinched the match for the Aggies, winning in straight sets (7-6, 6-2) over Poe.
 
"It was a hard match," County said. "There were a lot of emotions there at the beginning. I played the same girl last year for the clinch, but I didn't pull it out. This year, I just wanted to stay calm and realize the reason why I am playing, that there are other people that don't get the opportunity and I want to play hard for them. I stayed calm and confident, I trusted myself, and I stayed focused and played for the team."
 
The final two matches went the way of the Aggies, as well, as Lavatai beat Walker in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 10-5, while Millan defeated Fenske in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.
 
Utah State is back in action on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 9:30 a.m., against UTEP (1-2), which has lost two straight after opening the season with a 7-0 sweep over Western New Mexico.
 
The Miners will also play Idaho State on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 10 a.m., at the SARC.
 
Fans can follow USU's women's tennis team on Twitter @USUWomensTennis, on Facebook at /UtahStateWomensTennis or on Instagram at USUWomensTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
 
RESULTS
Doubles
1. LAVATAI, Sidnee/JONES, Hannah (USU) def. POE, Megan/CVETKOVIC, Hristina (ISU) 7-6
2. WALKER, Angela/ARKHIPOV, Alexandra (ISU) def. MILLAN, Carolina/LOMBERA, Renata (USU) 6-2
3. COUNTY, Annaliese/RYAN, Zara (USU) def. FENSKE, Madison/COBURN, Melissa (ISU) 7-6

Singles
1. CVETKOVIC, Hristina (ISU) def. DEKKERS, Gabrielle (USU) 6-3, 7-5
2. RYAN, Zara (USU) def. ARKHIPOV, Alexandra (ISU) 6-4, 6-3
3. LOMBERA, Renata (USU) def. COBURN, Melissa (ISU) 6-3, 6-3
4. COUNTY, Annaliese (USU) def. POE, Megan (ISU) 7-6, 6-2
5. LAVATAI, Sidnee (USU) def. WALKER, Angela (ISU) 6-3, 3-6, 10-5
6. MILLAN, Carolina (USU) def. FENSKE, Madison (ISU) 7-5, 6-3

Match Notes
Idaho State 2-2
Utah State 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles – 2, 1, 3; Singles – 2, 3, 1, 4, 5, 6
 
-USU-