Vandals down Eagles

Nathan Romans | Argonaut Sophomore Galina Bykova returns a volley during practice Tuesday. Bykova finished first in the Crimson Flight onsolation bracket and will play this coming weekend in the WSU Invitational in Pullman.

Vandals pick up first win of season

While Eastern Washington is in the Big Sky, the Vandals’ match against the Eagles did not count as a conference game this past weekend as it was scheduled as a nonconference game. It also did not take place in Moscow or Cheney, Washington, but rather in Pullman. Nonetheless, Idaho came away with a convincing victory over EWU.

Nathan Romans | Argonaut Sophomore Galina Bykova returns a volley during practice Tuesday. Bykova finished first in the Crimson Flight onsolation bracket and will play this coming weekend in the WSU Invitational in Pullman.

Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Sophomore Galina Bykova returns a volley during practice Tuesday. Bykova finished first in the Crimson Flight onsolation bracket and will play this coming weekend in the WSU Invitational in Pullman.

“We played strong in the doubles,” Idaho coach Mariana Cobra said. “Getting that doubles point really helped set the tone for the rest of the match. I’m proud of how we carried ourselves today, even at times that we did not play our best tennis.”

Idaho’s doubles pairs won two matches against the Eagles, while the third one ended unfinished, but with Idaho in the lead. Seniors Emmie Marx and Beatriz Flores defeated Janaya Smith and Erin Blessings of EWU in the No. 1 match, while sophomore Galina Bykova and senior Sophie Vickers won the No. 2 match against Eagles’ Dani Young and Katrina Domingo.

Five of the six singles matches went to Idaho and only the No. 6 singles match couldn’t be won by the Vandals. Bykova won the No. 1 match against Smith of EWU, Marx won the No. 2, Badillos won the No. 3, Vickers won the No. 4 and Rita Bermudez won the No. 5. Claire Yang lost a close match to Carolina Lopez in the No. 6 match.

After last week’s loss to Washington State, Idaho now stands at 1-1 in the spring season. Next up on the Vandals’ slate is a trip to the Emerald City against Seattle U Feb. 7, followed by road matches against Sacramento State and Gonzaga.

Ben Evensen can be reached at [email protected]

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