Cowgirls Drop Mountain West Opener at Nevada

* University of Wyoming press release

RENO, Nev., – The Wyoming Cowgirl tennis team opened Mountain West play with a hard-fought, 4-3 loss Friday on the road at Nevada.

The Cowgirls won the doubles point in the conference-opener but could only claim a pair of singles victories in the loss.

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Wyoming (9-7, 0-1 MW) got wins at the No. 1 and 3 doubles positions to open play Friday. The tandem of Violetta Borodina and Sophie Zehender at No. 1 came out on top, 6-3. At the third position, the duo of Jeselle Ante and Lucia Malinak blanked their opponent, 6-0.

“I thought we came out on the road and took the fight to them immediately in doubles and I thought we had set the tone,” said Head Coach Dean Clower.

In singles, Wyoming got wins from Zehender and Noesjka Brink at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Zehender won a three-set battle, 6-2, 3-6 and 6-2. Brink won in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-4. The Cowgirls suffered three-set losses at No. 3 and 5 as the Wolf Pack (6-4, 1-0 MW) were able to win a couple pivotal matches to hand UW the loss.

“In singles, our seniors led the way, playing our style of tennis. But, we need some of our underclassmen to step up more if we are going to make a run at another title,” continued Clower.

The Cowgirls have a chance to bounce back with a pair of matches at home next weekend. Wyoming hosts Boise State at 3 p.m., Friday and Utah State at 10 a.m., Sunday in the friendly confines of the Laramie Tennis Center.

Wyoming at Nevada
3/15/2024 in Reno, Nev.

Nevada 4, Wyoming 3
Doubles competition
1. Zehender/Borodina (WYO) def. Charrier/Luneva (UNR) 6-3
2. Brink/Dobrilova (WYO) vs. Foerster/Cakarevic (UNR) 5-4, unfinished
3. Malinak/Ante (WYO) def. Boubaker/Robinson (UNR) 6-0

Singles competition
1. Zehender def. Charrier, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
2. Brink def. Foerster, 6-3, 6-4
3. Guerbert (UNR) def. Borodina, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
4. Luneva def. Dobrilova, 6-2, 6-4
5. Boubaker def. Ante, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1
6. Robinson def. Malinak, 6-2, 6-1