(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)
It’s not very often you get to host the No. 1 team in the country. No. 24 Arizona State women’s tennis team got that opportunity when they faced No.1 Oklahoma State at home on Saturday at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
ASU rose to the occasion in the doubles matches. The intensity and effort was there for the Sun Devils as all three courts needed tiebreakers to decide them.
Court 2 consisting of senior Giulia Morlet and freshman Sara Svetac closed out their match 7-6 (7-3). However, courts 1 and 3 both lost tiebreakers 7-6 giving OSU the doubles point.
“I thought it was high quality doubles,” head coach Shiela McInerney said. “Very rarely do you have all three courts playing tiebreakers in the doubles. I thought we played very aggressive doubles and I think that’s the most important thing.”
The Sun Devils on courts 1 and 2 were up at least 4-1 in both matches for doubles. On court 1 sophomore Chelsea Fontenel and junior Patricija Spaka were at match point multiple times but failed to close it out.
“We got off to a good start at one and two, we ended up battling back and winning at two. One we had some match points there, but give Oklahomes State credit, they really went for it,” McInerney said.
“Even though we went up 4-1. They were really close games that we could have lost,” Fontenel said. “The score line said 4-1 but it didn’t feel like that at all.”
After losing the doubles points, ASU turned their attention to the Single matches. Their luck wasn’t there either as ASU ended up falling to No.1 OSU 4-0.
OSU won the first three matches, winning on courts five, two and four.
Just like the doubles matches the singles were close as well. Freshman Emilija Tverijonaite faced Cowboy Safiya Carrington on court 4 and put up a fight. Tverijonaite lost the match with scores of 6-3 and 6-4.
“I think they’re a deep team at four, five and six,” McInerney said. “Carrington at four, was hitting bombs all day and she was really a tough out. Rachel was still in it and she lost the first set and was up in a tiebreaker when we stopped.”
Even with a score of 4-0 the team still has their heads up high.
“Even though it’s 4-0 it’s a little bit closer than that for sure,” McInerney said. “We’ve won some 4-0 matches that are closer than the score. This is one that we didn’t win and it was definitely closer than the score.”
Losses are always tough but putting up close scores vs the No.1 team in the nation can definitely build some confidence.
“I mean, I’m human right now. It hurts like hell,” Fontenel said. “It’s definitely gonna give us confidence especially tonight, when we lay in our beds and we have sort of an objective view of what happened today.”
Now after losing their first match at home, the Sun Devils look to host Cal Poly at Whiteman Tennis Center tomorrow. The team is ready to bounce back and get into the win column.
“Once we get back into the conference, which is going to happen soon. You’re gonna play Friday and Saturday,” McInerney said. “So it’s good to have another match tomorrow, particularly after a tough one today because that’s what it’s going to be throughout the rest of the year.”
