Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah State
Wildcats Pull Out 4-3 Win Over Utah State
4/8/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
OGDEN, Utah -- The Weber State women's tennis team (7-12) went down to the wire with in-state rival Utah State (6-12) on Tuesday, pulling out a 4-3 win over the Aggies at the Ogden Athletic Club.
"We really played well in doubles today," said WSU head coach Jonas Ehrlin. "That got us going early, but we seemed to let up a little bit coming out in singles. These matches (with Utah State) are always tight. A lot of the girls know each other well from juniors and that adds to the rivalry. It came down to a few crucial points today, and we finished off with a very good effort."
The Wildcats swept the doubles matches to take the opening point. Inalise Pienaar and Ashley Schapper defeated Briana Harris and Hailey Swenson at No. 1. Gabriela Venditto and Keya Adamson downed Bridgette Strickland and Taylor Perry at No. 2 and Kelli Lindley and Elsje Beneke beat Britney Watts and Jennifer Johnson at No. 3. All three doubles matches ended in an 8-2 result.
In singles, the Wildcats earned wins at the No. 1, 3 and 5 positions to grab the necessary points for the win. Schapper defeated Watts 6-0, 7-5 at No. 3, but WSU suffered losses at 2, 4 and 6 to fall into a 3-2 deficit.
At No. 1, Venditto rebounded from a 6-4 loss in the opening set to defeat Harris in three sets. Venditto finished off the win, taking the final two sets 6-3, 6-3. That win pushed the score back to even at 3-3, and putting the pressure on the No. 5 match, which also moved to a third set.
Adamson, who had taken the first set 6-2 and dropped the second 7-5, was able to hold on for a gritty 6-4 win in the third. The pair each was broken in serve twice in the final set, before Adamson finally held serve to win the match.
"This was a really good win for us today," added Ehrlin. "It makes four in-a-row for us now, and today really will help us keep things rolling as we head into some key Big Sky matches this weekend."
Utah State vs Weber State
4/8/2008 at Ogden, UT
(Ogden Athletic Club)
Weber State 4, Utah State 3
Singles competition
1. Gabriela Venditto (WSU) def. Brianna Harris (USU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Hailey Swenson (USU) def. Inalise Pienaar (WSU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Ashley Schapper (WSU) def. Britney Watts (USU) 6-0, 7-5
4. Taylor Perry (USU) def. Greyce Farias (WSU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Keya Adamson (WSU) def. Bridgette Strickland (USU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
6. Marie Livingston (USU) def. Alyssia Pyne (WSU) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Inalise Pienaar/Ashley Schapper (WSU) def. Brianna Harris/Hailey Swenson (USU) 8-2
2. Gabriela Venditto/Keya Adamson (WSU) def. Bridgette Strickland/Taylor Perry (USU) 8-2
3. Kelli Lindley/Elsje Beneke (WSU) def. Britney Watts/Jennifer Johnson (USU) 8-2
Match Notes:
Utah State 6-12
Weber State 7-12
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,2,3,1,5,6)
Players Mentioned
