Sun Devils return to win column with win over NAU

(Photo Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

With the crowd cheering at Whiteman Tennis Center, it could only mean one thing. The Sun Devils finally got back into the win column, ending a three match losing streak.

After beating No. 6 Ohio State, 4-1, the season looked bright for the Sun Devils. However, as ASU fell into a three match losing streak, falling to No. 3 Stanford and No. 12 Cal. Losing senior Guilia Morlet to a calf strain was arguably the biggest factor of the losing streak.

Even with an injury like this the team isn’t fazed. Morlet has missed time as well in the previous two seasons, and head coach Sheila McInerney expects her team to be ready and interchangeable.

“I think when they all were recruited, they all thought they could play in the top of the lineup,” McInerney said. “We should be somewhat interchangeable from one to eight to be honest with you.”

Interchangeable they were on Wednesday afternoon. The Sun Devils (8-6, 0-2 Pac-12) closed out their three match homestand with a 4-0 victory against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (3-6).

With the injury to Morlet, senior Rachel Hanford and sophomore Chelsea Fontenel, have both seen significant role changes in the starting lineup. For Hanford she now is starting on court 2 for doubles with freshman Sara Svetac, and for Fontenel she moves up a court in singles to court 1. Both players aren’t fazed by the sudden change and look forward to the challenge.

“It’s always super tough when your number one player goes out because everyone moves up a spot and has to step up,” Hanford said. “One thing about our team is we’re super deep. Everyones super competitive and I think all of us can really play at any spot. I think if anything we can view it as an opportunity.”

The Sun Devils came out of the gates hot to start off the match. They secured the doubles point with (6-4,6-4) victory on courts 1 and 3. This was the third straight match that the Sun Devils got the doubles point.

Going into singles, Hanford was able to secure ASU’s second point of the day after finishing her match with a score of (6-3, 6-0) over Lumberjacks’ Ava Neyestani. Hanford clinched it with a fronthand hit that led to Neyestani hitting an out.

ASU continued the domination in the last two singles matches as well. Junior Patricija Spaka won her singles match with a score of (6-1,6-0), besting Lumberjack Andrea Noguera in convincing fashion.

Now it’s back on the road for the Sun Devils. The next home game they will play won’t be until April 5th against Washington State. For this upcoming weekend they face No. 18 UCLA and No. 9 USC. Two tough opponents that the team will face in Pac-12 play.

“We definitely need to step it up,” Fontenel said. “There are two great programs, but I think just knowing that it’s gonna be exciting knowing that it’s gonna be so competitive. I really hope it brings out the best in us.

“We kind of have a rivalry against both teams,” Hanford said. “I think all of us are excited for that competitiveness and the grittiness that’s gonna be required for a win. I think if we can build off of what we did today good things can come.”