MOSCOW, Idaho — The Idaho women's tennis team had another impressive weekend, extending their winning streak with decisive victories against the University of Wyoming and the University of the Pacific. The Vandals defeated Wyoming with a commanding score of 6-1 on Friday, setting the tone for the competition.
Lena Beckx and Ida Johansson kick-started the match by securing the doubles point with their strong play, winning their set 6-3. Following them, the pair of Hannah Koprowska and Diana Khaydarshina also dominated, winning their match 6-3, ensuring Idaho had the early advantage. Singles play saw five of the six Vandals emerge victorious, with standout Annabel Davis sweeping her opponent with scores of 6-1 and 7-6.
Carrying this momentum forward, the Vandals posted another convincing win against the University of the Pacific on Sunday. Once again, they claimed the doubles point early, with Beckx and Johansson breezing through their match with a 6-1 victory, followed closely by Koprowska and Khaydarshina’s 6-2 win. Singles results were similarly impressive, as four Vandals won their matches. Naomi Schraeder, though struggling initially, rebounded to win her match after dropping the first set, displaying resilience with scores of 6-4 in both remaining sets. Koprowska, Rodas, and Chenyue Xu also contributed significantly to the overall success.
The Vandals will continue to host Eastern Washington on March 2 at 11 AM at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, riding high on their recent successful performance.
On the softball front, things went differently for the Utah State Aggies. The team faced off against Idaho State at the Karl Brooks Classic this past weekend, falling to the Bengals 11-7, which ended Utah State's five-game winning streak.
The Aggies initially took control of the game, thanks to standout performances, particularly from redshirt junior catcher Kaylee Erickson, who drove in the first run of the game. Senior infielder Claudia Medina also made her presence felt, doubling to score another runner shortly after. Despite Utah’s strong start, the Bengals clawed back, demonstrating tenacity with timely scoring.
One notable highlight for the Aggies was Medina, who had a stellar offensive performance, going 3-for-3 with two runs and four RBIs. The excitement peaked for USU when they extended their lead late with significant power hitting, including Medina’s two-run homer. But the Bengals retaliated fiercely, scoring four runs innings later, highlighted by a grand slam, shifting the game completely.
Despite cranking out 13 hits and outpacing Idaho State’s 12 hits, the Aggies could not find the final push needed to clinch the game, going down without scoring in the seventh. The loss was disappointing but not entirely reflective of the Aggies' season’s performance so far. Utah State will next travel to Phoenix, Arizona, for the ASU Invitational scheduled from February 28 to March 2, where they'll seek to bounce back against several competitive teams.
For both the Idaho women's tennis and Utah State softball teams, the weekend was filled with highs and lows. While the Vandals basked in their triumphant streak, the Aggies are motivated to redirect their focus as they march forward. With upcoming matches on their schedules, both teams are aiming to continue building their legacies as forces to be reckoned with.