As the ball bounced up off the court and rocketed off the racket, the silence was broken at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. The Idaho Vandals women’s tennis team hit the courts this past Saturday, March 7, and cruised to a 6-1 victory over the University of Montana Grizzlies to move to 8-6 overall and 3-0 in conference play, extending their winning streak to six games.
When the Vandals took the court for doubles, they debuted a new pairing. Junior Naomi Schraeder, who typically partners with junior Jessica Matthews, lined up alongside sophomore Chenyue Xu. The two clicked instantly, defeating junior Kelsey Phillips and freshman Meghna Anand 6-3 to get the Vandals in the win column and set the tone for the match.
The Vandals carried that momentum into the second doubles match, where junior Ida Johansson and sophomore Hanna Koprowska sealed the doubles point with a 6-2 victory over the junior duo of Kaylin Kielty and Paige Bott.
Montana answered back in singles. Phillips, who entered the match unbeaten in conference play, kept that streak alive by defeating Xu 6-2, 6-2 to tie the match at 1-1.
Schraeder, sitting at 1-1 in conference play, looked to push Idaho back in front. She found herself in a three-set battle with Anand, dropping the first set 6-4 before bouncing back to win the next two 6-3, 7-5, giving Idaho a 2-1 lead.
Koprowska kept the momentum going, extending the Vandals’ lead with a 7-5, 6-2 win over sophomore Monika Fizova.
Johansson then clinched the victory for Idaho with a 7-5, 7-6 win over sophomore Kate Prichard. Senior Valentina Rodas closed out her match with a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Bott, while freshman Soha Singh added the final point with a 6-3, 7-5 win over freshman Kamilla Slovakova.
After opening the season 2-6, head coach Sanne Clevenger and the Vandals have rattled off six straight wins. With strong individual performances across the lineup, Idaho now owns the longest active winning streak in the Big Sky this season.
Picked to finish third in the preseason, the Vandals have exceeded expectations and currently sit in second place in the conference standings.
Up next, Idaho faces in-state rival Idaho State, the second-hottest team in the Big Sky and winners of five straight, with a chance to extend their streak and claim some bragging rights.
The Vandals and Bengals are scheduled to take the court Sunday, March 15, at 10 a.m.