MISSOULA, Mont. – The Eastern Washington University women’s tennis team clinched the Big Sky Conference North Division championship with a 5-2 match win over hosts University of Montana on April 18. With the win, the Eagles qualified for the conference tournament for the third-straight season and hold an undefeated conference record at 4-0 with an even 8-8 overall record.
“What an incredible moment to experience with this team,” Eagles head coach Dustin Hinson said. “We had a lot of close matches and we had to come up big in tight moments. But this team is special, every single one of them. They dig deep and they rise to occasion when the pressure gets amped up.”
The Eagles improve their all-time series record to 15-47 against the Grizzlies with a three-match winning streak attached.
Doubles winners for Eastern Washington were Scout Mathews and Louise Waite, 7-6 (7-2); and Jennifer Kida and Renata Gabuzyan, 6-1. Getting wins in singles action were Jennifer Kida, 6-4, 7-5; Mathews, 6-0, 6-4; Gabuzyan, 6-5 (4-7), 7-6 and Braeden, 6-4, 6-2.
“It was a great moment to see senior captain Rylee Braeden clinch the victory for us today in her singles match,” Hinson said. “She played really well and had fun coming up with the big win for the team.”
The Eagles will prepare for the 2021 Big Sky Conference Tennis Championship held on May 1-2, Saturday-Sunday, in Phoenix, Ariz.
“I’m so happy that they get to feel this success because they have definitely earned it,” Hinson said of his team and their title. “We have a lot to look forward to in the Big Sky Championships in Arizona in a couple weeks.”
On April 16, the Eagles notched a 4-3 win over Montana State University in Bozeman, rallying from a 3-2 deficit in match play to win what was then their fourth-straight match, three in Big Sky play. With the win over the Grizzlies, that streak is now five and four heading into post-season play.
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