The Seattle University women’s tennis team recorded their second win against a Division I opponent with an upset of Big Sky member, Eastern Washington, 4-3, during a five hour marathon Saturday afternoon.
Seattle took control of the match early, gaining the doubles point with wins from their number two and three teams. Ariel Ohno (Kent, Wash.) paired with Whitney Cheng (Seattle, Wash.) in the second slot to defeat Judy Liening and Rachel Berger, 8-3. The point was secured with a victory by Katrina Schwab (Spokane, Wash.) and Mikalea Peterson (Spokane, Wash.) over Caitlin Bampton and Kasie King, 8-4. The number one team of Audree Jenks (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Nicole Fleckenstein (Seattle, Wash.) fell to Amanda Mankovits and Marie Demerath, 8-6.
Leading 1-0, the Redhawks fell behind with two early losses from the top two positions. Ohno fell to Mankovits (7-6 (7-5), 6-2), while Jenks took Berger the distance in a three set match, but fell late (6-1, 4-6, 6-1).
SU pulled even with the third match, as Fleckenstein defeated Bampton in three sets (7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-1). They retook the lead with a straight-set victory from Cheng over King (6-2, 6-2). The victory was sealed with Schwab’s victory in the five spot over Liening in straight-sets (6-3, 6-2). In the final singles match, Aya Sugimoto (Poulsbo, Wash.) was unable to pull out the victory, losing in three (4-6, 6-3, 10-8).
“Everyone is so excited about this win,” said Head Coach Mark Frisby. “It was a great match and the girls got key victories when we needed them most,” Frisby said.
Seattle University will return to the courts tomorrow when they travel to Moscow, Idaho to take on Idaho and Lewis-Clark State starting at 9:00 a.m.
Seattle University 4, Eastern Washington 3
Singles
1. Amanda Mankovits (EWU) def. Ariel Ohno (SU): 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
2. Rachel Berger (EWU) def. Audree Jenks (SU): 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
3. Nicole Fleckenstein (SU) def. Caitlin Bampton (EWU): 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-1
4. Whitney Cheng (SU) def. Kasie King (EWU): 6-2, 6-2
5. Katrina Schwab (SU) def. Judy Liening (EWU): 6-3, 6-2
6. Heather Handwerk (EWU) def. Aya Sugimoto (SU): 4-6, 6-3, 10-8
Doubles
1. Mankovits/Marie Demerath (EWU) def. Jenks/Fleckenstein (SU): 8-6
2. Ohno/Cheng (SU) def. Liening/Berger (EWU): 8-3
3. Schwab/Mikalea Peterson (SU) def. Bampton/King (EWU): 8-4