The first outdoor match and WAC opponent met Idaho women’s tennis Friday and Saturday, and the Vandals returned to Moscow 2-1.
The Vandals (11-5, 0-1 WAC) defeated UTEP Friday under the El Paso, Texas, sun then traveled to Las Cruces, N.M., where they beat New Mexico and lost 4-3 to New Mexico State. Idaho coach Daniel Pollock said Idaho played better outside than he expected after a three-month stint indoors.
He said the first outdoor match of the season, a 4-3 win over UTEP, was not the gentlest introduction to the outdoor season because of adverse conditions.
“With sustained 30 mile per hour wind the balls were going everywhere,” Pollock said. ” … I was really proud of the girls that they were able to concentrate through that in our first outdoor match.”
He said while UTEP’s record isn’t the best, it is tough to beat at home. Pollock said an indoor match would have yielded a bigger scoring difference because the wind leveled the playing field, especially against a team that it is often exposed to it.
Idaho’s No. 1 player, sophomore Vicky Lozano, said the women were happy to finally play in warmer weather.
“It was a good feeling because I wanted to have sun and get tanned and be warm but also it was a little windy so the first match was a bit frustrating but we played strong mentally and everything went well,” Lozano said.
Near-perfect conditions the second day made up for wind in El Paso. Pollock said Idaho played one of its best matches all season.
“Started off we played a great doubles point and then honestly our level of concentration in singles was the best it’s been all semester,” Pollock said.
Idaho defeated New Mexico 5-2 and Pollock said the energy on the court was positive. He said dismantling a good team that is highly ranked in the region was a landmark win for Idaho. Pollock believes Idaho has never beaten New Mexico.
After New Mexico, Idaho prepared for its first conference match of the season against New Mexico State.
Pollock said he thinks Idaho suffered from fatigue after playing three matches in as many days.
“The minds were willing but the bodies just weren’t in some cases,” Pollock said.
Idaho led 3-2 at one point, but lost the last two singles matches resulting in the 4-3 loss. Pollock said the team should take more positives, than negatives, away from its performance over the weekend.
“They did themselves proud out there,” Pollock said. “They played the home team very close, one of the best teams from the conference.”
If Idaho faces New Mexico State in the conference tournament — fresh, with more outdoor playing time — he said the match could go either way.
Lozano said the team played well regardless of the loss.
“The wind was a factor that made us feel a little off-set but we overcame that and we had a good attitude,” Lozano said.
Idaho has a full week off before returning to the court and Pollock said it will take advantage of the time off.
“The girls have been going hard week in and week out since the first week of school,” Pollock said. “So two or three days off will do them a world of good.”