by Zachary Knecht
Featured Image: Photo by Weber State Athletics
Weber State Tennis Recap
Between the men’s and women’s teams, the Weber State Wildcats traveled across much of the Western U.S. this past weekend to battle a slew of foes of different statuses. The men had a mighty challenge against the #1-seeded Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, while the women went through Washington and Idaho in a tripleheader from Friday through Sunday.
With the men’s loss to Northern AZ, their perfect conference season ended. They are now 11-8 (4-1) but remain in second in the Big Sky with the Lumberjacks clinching the conference’s first seed. The women’s team went 2-1 over the three days. They finished 10-8 (6-2) after playing their final regular season games of the year, finishing as the second seed in the Big Sky.
Men’s Recap
Weber State at Northern Arizona 1-6
The Wildcat men played against Northern AZ Saturday, April 15, where they were unprecedently blown out by the Lumberjacks. This battle was key in determining the conference’s top seed as Weber State was the only team who could catch Northern AZ in the standings, with both rosters undefeated in conference play coming into the matchup.
Doubles
The Lumberjacks got on the board first in doubles play, taking down Sebastian Buxman and Matteo Savio 6-4 in a back-and-forth duel. As the saying goes, an eye for an eye, and the Wildcats followed that to a tee as Tristan Sarap and Elyes Marouani took the second set 6-4. The duo of William Zulch and Connor Kruger have delivered on many occasions, but in a match-determining set, Northern AZ got the upper hand in an entertaining duel ending in the score 7(7) to 6(4).
- Tristan Sarap/Elyes Marouani(WSU) beat Maikel De Boes/Facundo Tumosa (NAU) 6-4
- Alex Groves/Piotr Galus (NAU) beat William Zulch/Connor Kruger (WSU) 7(7) – 6(4)
- Dominik Buzonics/Daniel Dillon (NAU) beat Sebastian Buxman/Matteo Savio (WSU) 6-4
Order of Finish: (3, 1, 2)
Singles
After taking a 1-0 lead in doubles, Northern AZ put their foot on the gas and never looked back. The Lumberjacks clinched the victory after the third match of singles plays, but the rosters saw through the rest of the sets. Sebastian Buxman was the lone Wildcat to steal a point in the Aquatic and Tennis Complex as WSU lost 6-1.
- Sebastian Buxman (WSU) beat Maikel De Boes (NAU) 7-6, 6-4
- Facundo Tumosa (NAU) beat Tristan Sarap (WSU) 6-2, 7-6
- Piotr Galus (NAU) beat Connor Kruger (WSU) 6-1, 6-3
- Dominik Buzonics (NAU) beat Elyes Marouani (WSU) 6-4, 6-3
- Alex Groves (NAU) beat William Zulch (WSU) 6-3, 6-0
- Dani Torres (NAU) beat Jordan Coutinho (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: (6, 3, 5, 4, 2, 1)
Women’s Recap
The women Wildcats had a much longer weekend than the men. Weber State started its trip in Washington before traveling to two battles in Idaho. Over the three days, WSU faced off against Eastern Washington, Lewis-Clark State College, and Idaho.
Friday, April 14
Weber State at Eastern Washington, 3-4
Weber State started their excursion against the Eastern Washington Eagles, taking an unfortunate loss to one of the conference’s bottom teams – and one that didn’t qualify for the tournament. Thankfully, the defeat didn’t impact the standings in the Big Sky, but it is a defeat the Wildcats look to forget.
Doubles
It was a promising start for Weber State in doubles play after Sicely Ferreira and Kenadee Semenik took the first set 6-3. Again, following the eye for an eye rule, the Eagles tied it with a 6-3 win of their own over Dylan Lolofie and Megan Lombardi. As if having a flair for the dramatic, the two teams brought the decisive set to an entertaining conclusion, but Eastern Washington pulled out the 7-5 win over Megan Davies and Ana Morett.
- Scout Mathews/Isabella Foshee (EWU) beat Megan Davies/Ana Morett (WSU) 7-5
- Renata Gabuzyan/Jennifer Kida (EWU) beat Dylan Lolofie/Megan Lombardi (WSU) 6-3
- Sicely Ferreira/Kenadee Semenik (WSU) beat Kenzington Mann/Leandra Nizetic (EWU) 6-3
Order of Finish: (3, 2, 1)
Singles
Weber State was determined to keep the contest from getting out of hand, taking the first competition in singles play after a dominant performance from Ana Morett, winning her match 6-2, 6-3. Kenadee Semenik went on to drop the next match before Megan Lombardi tied the teams at two with her 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory. Momentum seemed to be in the Wildcats’ favor, but Eastern Washington stormed back, winning the next two matches and clinching the day. Lolofie finished the last duel of the outing, winning 4-6, 7(2)-6(0), and 10-3.
- Ana Morett (WSU) beat Scout Mathews (EWU) 6-2, 6-3
- Jennifer Kida (EWU) beat Megan Davies (WSU) 2-6, 7(6)-6(0), 6-1
- Megan Lombardi (WSU) beat Renata Gabuzyan (EWU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
- Leandra Nizetic (EWU) beat Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 6-2, 7(3)-6(0)
- Kenzington Mann (EWU) beat Cindy Ping An (WSU) 6-2, 7(2)-6(0)
- Dylan Lolofie (WSU) beat Isabella Foshee (EWU) 4-6, 7(2)-6(0), 10-3
Order of Finish: (1, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6)
Saturday, April 15
Weber State at Lewis-Clark State College 7-0
The Wildcats made light work at Lewis-Clark State College, sweeping the Warriors in every match on Saturday. Weber State didn’t lose a single set against their non-conference foe, asserting their dominance and moving past the frustrating loss the previous day.
Doubles
- Megan Davies/Ana Morett (WSU) beat Yelena Kim/April Buckingham (LC) 6-0
- Megan Lombardi/Dylan Lolofie (WSU) beat Heidi Moyo/Catherine Khardina (LC) 6-2
- Kenadee Semenik/Sicely Ferreira (WSU) beat Beatriz Lambru/Lina Boylan (LC) 6-2
Singles
- Ana Morett (WSU) beat Yelena Kim (LC) 6-2, 6-3
- Megan Davies (WSU) beat Lina Boylan (LC) 6-3, 6-1
- Megan Lombardi (WSU) beat Beatriz Lambru (LC) 6-2, 6-1
- Cindy Ping An (WSU) beat Catherine Khardina (LC) 6-2, 6-1
- Kenadee Semenik (WSU) beat Heidi Moyo (LC) 6-0, 6-1
- Dylan Lolofie (WSU) beat April Buckingham (LC) 6-3, 6-2
Sunday, April 16
Weber State at Idaho 5-2
The Wildcats concluded their season against the Idaho Vandals, finishing their year on a high note as they head into the Big Sky tournament. They kept Weber State as the second seed as they beat up the lowest seed in the conference.
Doubles
WSU kicked off their final battle by winning the doubles point handily. The duos of Davies/Morett and Semenik/Ferreira fought to take the doubles point. The third set of the trio was left unfinished, but Lomardi and Lolofie were down before the match was concluded.
- Megan Davies/Ana Morett (WSU) beat Lena Beckx/Annabel Davis (IDAHO) 7-5
- Megan Lombardi/Dylan Lolofie (WSU) unfinished Jayanne Palma/Valentina Rodas (IDAHO) 5-6
- Kenadee Semenik/Sicely Ferreira (WSU) beat Saffron Dowse/Rachelle Starreveld (IDAHO) 6-3
Singles
The Wildcats kept their rhythm rolling into singles play. The singles matches were highlighted by Davies winning 6-2, 6-0 and Lombardi mirroring her score 6-0, 6-2. The outing was clinched by Cindy Ping An taking her match by a score of 7(7)-6(2), 6-2.
- Annabel Davis (IDAHO) beat Ana Morett (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
- Megan Davies (WSU) beat Valentina Rodas (IDAHO) 6-2, 6-0
- Megan Lombardi (WSU) beat Rachelle Starreveld (IDAHO) 6-0, 6-2
- Cindy Ping An (WSU) beat Saffron Dowse (IDAHO) 7(7)-6(2), 6-2
- Kenadee Semenik (WSU) beat Selin Sepken (IDAHO) 7-5, 7(8)-6(6)
- Lena Beckx (IDAHO) beat Dylan Lolofie (WSU) 7-5, 6-1
What’s to Come
After the weekend, the women’s regular season comes to a close with the Big Sky tournament only a few weeks away. The men, on the other hand, have a couple more duels left to prepare, trying to maintain their seeding with the #1 already clinched. They play on back-to-back days next weekend against Eastern Washington and Idaho.
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