The season came to a halt for the University of Idaho women’s tennis team on Thursday after a 4-0 loss to the No. 71-ranked Nevada Wolf Pack.
The women’s loss resulted in a first round elimination from the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Las Cruces, N.M.

“At some positions we had tough matches. You never like to lose that bad,” said Idaho coach Jeff Beaman. “We just played a better team. They are more experienced. They’re an older team but also they’re a better team.”

The Wolf Pack quickly took control of the match when they defeated Idaho’s No. 2 doubles team of Natalie Kirch and Basia Maciocha, and the No. 3 pair of Alexandra Ulesanu and Yvette Ly to earn the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead.

The Vandals continued to struggle into the singles matches where the Wolf Pack picked up three more points at the No. 1, 2 and 5 positions to secure the win with a 4-0 lead.

Idaho’s No. 2 player Basia Maciocha lost to Nevada’s No. 116-ranked Caroline Bailly in straight sets 6-0, 6-1.
Silvia Irimescu followed with a loss at No. 1 to Nevada’s No. 72-ranked Maria Mizyuk 6-1, 6-2.
Following the loss, Beaman told the team they could take a lot from the experience.

“They got to see another team in the conference that’s nationally ranked to see where we need to get to,” Beaman said. “But the main thing I want them to take out of it is, that’s the level we better be at next year.”

The loss marked the end of an impressive season for the Vandals, who came back from a slow 3-7 start to finish with an overall record of 16-10.
“At first we didn’t know how to work as a group, as a team, but then we got better,” Machioca said. “I think it’s better than last years, so if we keep getting better, our next year’s records will be hopefully much better.”

The team will not be losing starting players to graduation, so while the team’s record was acceptable, Beaman expects more from the women next year.

“For a young team, especially after the bad start, a good accomplishment speaks well of the players,” Beaman said. “They didn’t get down on themselves — they fought back. The thing is, I won’t be happy with that record
next year. We can be a better team.”

The men experienced similar results at the WAC tournament, losing to No. 92-ranked Hawai’i in the first round.
Hawai’i picked up the doubles point after defeating the No. 1 pair of Andrey Potapkin and Stanislav Glukhov, and the No. 2 pair of Tim Huynh and Rob Chalkley.

Although the Vandals improved in the singles matches, they managed to pick up only one win, which came at No. 4 with Chalkley defeating Craig Faulk 6-0, 6-1.
Idaho’s Huynh, Paulo Miranda and Hugh McDonald all lost to their opponents, giving Hawai’i a 4-1 lead to secure the first round victory.
“Hawai’i ended up winning the conference championship,” Beaman said. “They beat Boise (which) is nationally ranked, they beat Fresno (which) is nationally ranked. It was as tough of a first round match up as you can get.”
After having the best start in over 15 years with a 10-5 record, the Vandals struggled past the finish line, ending the season with an overall record of 13-13.

“It’s not bad, but it could be better,” Potapkin said. “I know we have potential and I know we can
do better.”

The Vandals had something to be proud after their season- ending defeat when Idaho’s freshman players, Potapkin and Glukhov, were awarded All-WAC honors.

Potapkin finished the year with a 23-8 singles record, which earned him first team all-WAC singles honors.
Although Potapkin referred to the honor as “nothing special,” Beaman said the recognition is good for Idaho and expressed high hopes for what Potapkin could accomplish.

“He should have the ability to get into top national level tournaments and he’ll have a really high regional rank,” Beaman said.
Potapkin was honored for a second time when he and his doubles partner Glukhov were selected to the second All-WAC doubles team.
Potapkin and Glukhov played at the No. 1 position for the Vandals and finished the year with a 12-6 record.

“The WAC is one of the top tennis conferences,” Beaman said. “A lot of nationally ranked players, a lot of nationally ranked teams, and for them to be so young and already All-WAC, it’s a
great honor.”

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