By Celeste Wilcox
It was a beautiful day in Provo, and the BYU women”s tennis team took advantage of the weather and hosted its first outdoor match of the season Wednesday, April 9.
Idaho State University came to town at the last minute so BYU could get an extra match.
The Cougars were able to sweep the match 7-0, only losing one set.
“It was great to get that match in,” said BYU head coach Craig Manning. “It was good to get some more match play in. We”re getting better with every match.”
The loss brings the ISU Bengals to 9-5 on the season and ends their four-match winning streak.
The victory brings the Cougar”s record to 9-10 on the season, and sophomore Nicole Schneider said it was good for the team to get extra practice.
“This match was good to play well as a team,” Schneider said. “It”s going to help us for this weekend when we play tougher teams.”
Schneider said the team focused on each point to pull out the win against ISU.
“If we focus on every point, we”re going to play well,” she said. “We wanted to go out there, focus and get off the court. And that”s what we did.”
Schneider had a five-match break from singles play earlier in the season, being replaced by Senior Tara Porter. With Porter out with an illness, Schneider has stepped up her level of play.
“I”m way excited to be playing singles again,” Schneider said. “I think the break really helped me because I come out here now and I”m enjoying tennis again.”
Schneider won her singles match easily 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 5 position.
“I think I am playing quite well,” Schneider said. “I have been focusing on having fun and the results take care of themselves.”
Winning the doubles point was a good way to start the match for the Cougars. Seniors Dominique Reynolds and Leeza Klempner won 8-3 at the No. 1 position.
At No. 2, freshman Hadley MacFarlane and Schneider defeated Melanie Kranz and Carol Tolsma 8-2.
“We”ve been working on doubles, trying to get everyone playing a little stronger,” Manning said.
In singles play, freshman Hanni Whittenbecker clinched her first win as a Cougar by defeating Kristina Arutjunova 6-3, 2-6, 10-7.
Manning had Whittenbecker play to give her experience, but also to give sophomore Rebecca Pike a rest.
“Rebecca needed the rest more than anyone else,” Manning said. “We”ll give somebody else a day to rest on Friday and then we should have the lineup at full-strength for Colorado State on Saturday.”
Freshman Olga Boulytcheva played well for the Cougars, combining with Pike to win 8-1 at No. 3 doubles. She also pulled off a commanding win against Hayli Scott 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.
Boulytcheva rolled her ankle during her match, but was still able to pull out the win.
“Other than Olga [Boulytcheva] rolling her ankle, everything is coming together,” Manning said.
The Cougars travel to Colorado this weekend to face conference foes Wyoming and Colorado State.
