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SPOKANE, Wash. – The Eagles secured victories in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles, yet it proved insufficient against the Zags. Eastern Washington (1-2) made their way to Spokane to face Gonzaga (2-0), ultimately losing 5-2.
“There are numerous positive aspects to take away and probably the finest match we’ve performed as a team this entire season, despite the outcome,” stated head coach Dustin Hinson. “Everyone competed exceptionally well. There was a strong eagerness to compete from beginning to end and a will to discover a path to victory.”
In the doubles No. 2 slot, Leandra Nizetic and Sara Vasic faced off together for the first time this season. The No. 1 position saw Anait Arutiunian/Kenzington Mann team up for the second time this year. Both pairs were unable to achieve a victory in their respective matchups, resulting in the Zags winning the doubles point.
The junior Anait Arutiunian would appear in the No. 1 singles position for the second time. Although Arutiunian struggled initially in the first match, she managed to push Rose Hayes in the second set, maintaining the lead for most of the set and ultimately winning 6-4 in the second set. Arutiunian held an early advantage in the tiebreaker, but Hayes recovered to even it at 6-6. Arutiunian then found her rhythm, taking the next four points and winning the tiebreaker 10-6. This victory marked Arutiunian’s first dual-match win this season and the third of her career.
From the No. 2 position, junior Nizetic displayed resilience with a 6-4 win in the first set, then carried that momentum into a 6-3 second set victory against Norhan Hesham. Nizetic’s record improves to 2-1 in dual matches this season.
“I’m very pleased with the outcomes of the No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches with Anait and Lea. Anait had to recover after losing the first set to clinch it in a tiebreaker. Lea was exceptionally strong in straight sets and performed brilliantly. She’s in remarkable form, and I’m incredibly excited for their successes,” Hinson commented.
In her second dual match of the season, freshman Zoe Pradel made her debut in the No. 4 singles position. The first set saw a back-and-forth battle, but Ella Nielsen ultimately claimed it 7-5. In the second, Pradel started strongly to lead at 4-2 and won the set 6-3. However, a competitive tiebreaker followed, but Pradel fell short, losing 10-7.
Another freshman, Olivia Marais, in the No. 6 singles position struggled in her first set, succumbing 6-2. Marais fought back in the second but ultimately lost in the tiebreaker.
“Even those who didn’t secure wins displayed great energy, and I believe everyone is playing for one another. They are competing for more than just their individual success, and that’s inspiring to see. There’s been a lot of excellent team bonding this year, which we’ve emphasized greatly off the court,” Hinson said. “It is positively influencing our performance on the court, and I’m excited for what lies ahead. We have a weekend to rest and then we’ll dive back into training. We are eager to continue improving and find new ways to ascend.”
Up Next
EWU will enjoy a week of rest before heading to Moscow to face BYU on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 10 am.
2025 Eastern Washington Women’s Tennis
January 19, 2024
Gonzaga def. Eastern Washington 5-2
Spokane, Wash.
DOUBLES
No. 1 Emily Robertson/Safien Boulonois (GU) def. Anait Arutiunian/Kenzington Mann (EWU) 6-2
No. 2 Rose Hayes /Lia Espinal (GU) def. Leandra Nizetic /Sara Vasic (EWU) 6-2
No. 3 Norhan Hesham/Brooke Bittner (GU) def. Zoe Pradel/Olivia Marais (EWU) (DNF)
Order of Finish: 1,2
SINGLES
No. 1 Anait Arutiunian (EWU) def. Rose Hayes (GU) 3-6, 6-4, (10-6)
No. 2 Leandra Nizetic (EWU) def. Safien Boulonoi (GU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 Norhan Hesham (GU) def. Kenzington Mann (EWU) 6-1, 6-3
No. 4 Ella Nielsen (GU) def. Zoe Pradel (EWU) 7-5, 3-6, (10-7)
No.5 Brooke Bittner (GU) def. Sara Vasic (EWU) 6-2, 6-2
No.6 Lia Espinal (GU) def. Olivia Marais (EWU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
Order of Finish: 3,5,2,6,4,1
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics supports 14 intercollegiate sports, including six for men and eight for women, providing both competitive opportunities for its most athletically gifted students and enhancing student and community engagement. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, which includes 10 regional schools with similar enrollments and academic aspirations.
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