By Isabella Dandoy – (@DandoyIsabella) – Spear Reporter
SJSU women’s tennis (7-6 overall, 2-0 MW) had a taste of its first Mountain West opponents of the season this weekend, sweeping its opposition 2-0. SJSU faced Utah State (5-7 overall, 0-1 MW) first and Boise State (8-5, 1-1) second.
Match 1: Utah State
The weekend began with a big win for the Spartans, who faced Utah State. They won the match 4-1, making it a good team victory after last week’s disappointing loss against USF.
Junior Irena Muradyan and senior Rozalina Youseva clinched the doubles point for the team. The partners have the best doubles record on the team together (7-3).
With the doubles point, the Spartans eased comfortably into singles matches. Muradyan, junior Carolina Millan, and Youseva each had winning matches, making it enough for them to win the match altogether. Muradyan clinched the point and won the game in three sets (6-3, 2-6, 6-3).
Fifth-year Alba Pedrero Galindo, who was defeated first (6-2, 6-2), has been struggling in singles matches. She has a two-game losing streak, but her loss made no difference in the match’s outcome.
A confident win was paramount going into the match against Boise State, who pose a much tougher division matchup.
Match 2: Boise State
Boise State had a home-court advantage in this matchup, but the match was much more of a nail-biter than an easy sweep. SJSU won 4-3 after a comeback that is sure to be remembered.
After being unable to obtain the doubles point, Millan (6-1, 6-1) and Muradyan (6-2, 6-2) were able to put the team on the board and up 2-1. Muradyan now boasts the best singles record on the team (13-5).
The match’s outcome relied on the final set, belonging to Youseva. Youseva, who has been on a three-game winning streak in singles, was the deciding factor in this match. Her suspenseful match was well-equipped with a winning tiebreaker in the second set, leading her to a third and final set that clinched the match (4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5).
Junior Raquel Villan Pereira also kept the team on its toes with her match going to three sets (6-3, 1-6, 6-4). Because she finished fifth, her vicious three matches proved to be a lifeline for SJSU, since she evened out the score 3-3.
The Spartans commenced this weekend with two exciting team wins against matchups that they will meet again soon. Until then, SJSU women’s tennis will return home on March 29 at 12 p.m. to play Eastern Washington University (2-9), making this matchup the last non-Mountain West team they will face this season.
