After being on the road for virtually the entire season, the Idaho women’s tennis team will compete Friday in Moscow against the Oregon Ducks for Senior Day. The Vandals (16-4) have yet to play a match in Moscow this season. Of the previous five home matches, three were held in Pullman, while two were played in Lewiston.
“To actually play on our home court, to have a chance to have a bit of a crowd for Senior Day is going to be nice,” Idaho coach Jeff Beaman said.
The match featuring three Idaho seniors will be played 1 p.m. on Friday at the Memorial Gym courts.
Seniors, as well as sisters, Vicky and Alejandra Lozano join Almudena Sanz in their final home match as Vandals.
“It’s pretty important for me because it’ll be my last (home) match of my college career,” Vicky said.
“It’s more of a mixed feeling but I think I’m more happy for everything I’ve had in college.”
“I think we are prepared and ready to play,” Sanz said. “Also, we want to get confidence for the WAC (Championship) next week.”
Beaman said Vicky Lozano and Sanz have been instrumental in redefining the program at Idaho.
“They came in as freshmen and really stepped in at (No. 1) and 2,” Beaman said. “Most of the time, they won doubles. To have impact players that start at the top and finish at the top, they’ve really been a huge part of our program going to the next level.”
The Vandals last two ‘home’ matches were played in Lewiston on March 26, and prior to that on Feb. 22.
“I’m used to playing more far from here,” Vicky said. “We haven’t played many matches here. I’m excited to see my friends, people who know me and come support me. It’s going to be very cool.”
Sanz said the home-court advantage helps the Vandals compete better.
“It’s always good to play at home and have our friends supporting us,” Sanz said. “It’s good for us to get motivated and they help us in our matches.”
Beaman said it’s rare for a high-profile school, such as Oregon, to play Idaho on campus, but the teams have had a mutual agreement to play each other the last four years.
“Their coach has really worked great with us,” Beaman said. “The first year we went to them. The years they’re playing Washington State (at home), he said he’d agree to play us on campus. For them to do a home-and-home with a non-Pac 12 school gives us a chance to have a great match on campus.”
The bittersweet feeling of the last home match gives seniors the chance to reflect on the past four years.
“I want to enjoy my game and I want to enjoy my teammates,” Victoria said. “I’m very thankful for the coaches I’ve had here.”
The Vandals will hit the road Sunday to play its final regular season match in Missoula, Mont., before the WAC Championship in Las Cruces, N.M., on April 25-27.
Conor Gleason can be reached at [email protected]