In a match-up predicted to be much closer, the Vandal women’s tennis team made easy work of the Bulldogs Friday in Spokane, winning 5-2.
“They looked good,” coach Daniel Pollock said. “They were exactly what we expected — tough at the top, deep all the way down.”
Idaho won two of three doubles matches to score the first point of the match. The Vandals lost to a team Pollock said hits the ball hard.
“Gonzaga has this freshman team at No. 2 that hits the ball a million miles an hour and it’s really fast conditions up there in Spokane so we got a little overwhelmed,” Pollock said.
He said playing against a team that hit the ball so hard helped the Vandals in singles play. The Bulldogs came out strong, but it wasn’t enough to stop the momentum of Idaho.
“It was close for a while but we started to pull away,” Pollock said. “When No. 5 and No. 6 got on, they really started dominating their matches and we seemed to become a little bit more comfortable. It wasn’t really close at the end but at the beginning it was.”
Vicky Lozano, playing at No. 1 singles, dominated Gonzaga’s No.1 player 6-2, 6-0.
“Vicky came out and just crushed her girl,” Pollock said.
The Vandals continued the charge dropping only two singles matches, one of which was a close match that Sophie Vickers fell short of winning.
“I played a girl with a big forehand and a big serve,” Vickers said. “She didn’t start off too well and I came in pretty confident after my doubles match and then she picked up her game as the match went on and I wasn’t able to keep up my form throughout the match unfortunately.”
Vickers took the first set 6-1 but in the second set Pollock said Vickers’ opponent started playing well and overwhelmed Vickers.
Bety Flores suffered Idaho’s other singles loss, losing in two straight sets 6-3, 6-3. The Vandals finished the match 5-2. Vickers said no one on the team expected to win so easily.
“They are a good team,” Vickers said. “They looked good, they hit nice shots but we just competed well and came out on top.”
Pollock said Gonzaga was similar to the Montana team Idaho lost to earlier this season, but the Bulldogs have potential to be a more talented team. He said the tough loss the Vandals suffered to Montana helped them prepare for this match.
“Being in that close match with Montana so early in the season only helped us because the more tough matches you get under your belt, the next time that situation comes around, you know what to do and you’re not surprised or as nervous,” Pollock said.
Next week the Vandals play Boise State and Eastern Washington, and Pollock and Vickers said this win over the Bulldogs is a great boost going forward.
“They were all smiles after the match because they know they did well, they know they played hard, and they deserved to win,” Pollock said. “I’m confident and it’s exciting going into Boise.”
“We should all have great confidence coming into this weekend,” Vickers said. “It’s going to be another tough one but I think we are all ready for it.”