SALT LAKE CITY, Utah- The Idaho State women's tennis team completed their ITA Mountain Regionals this past weekend. The Bengals were joined by 20 other schools and universities at this tournament for an individual draw in both singles and doubles play.
Beginning with doubles play, Idaho State had three pairs of doubles competing in the Main Draw. Up first we saw the twins, Sol O'Lideadha and Lola O'Lideadha, as they dropped their opening round match 5-8 to a New Mexico State pairing, but in their consolation bracket matches they would roll through their Utah Tech and University of Nevada matchups with a 6-0 win in round 1 and a 6-4 win in round 2.
The next duo of Hana Cho and Sydney Morris were narrowly defeated by Boise State their opening round match after a tough tiebreaker, 7-8 (4-7). In the consolation bracket Morris and Cho were unable to fend off a different Bronco pair and fell 3-6.
The final team for the Bengals competing in the Main Draw was Asem Shoybek and Stefanya Shalakhova. Shoybek and Shalakhova could not get it done in the first round, falling to a University of Wyoming team 4-8. In the groups consolation matches they would turn the ship around, downing a Weber State duo 7-5 and then a University of Colorado pairing 6-4.
In singles play the Bengals had seven players competing in two different draws.
In the Main Draw bracket, we saw Sol O'Lideadha handle her first round NAU matchup 6-3, 6-2, but fall in the second round to her University of New Mexico opponent 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 5-7. In her lone consolation singles match O'Lideadha would down her UNLV opponent in a tiebreak 6-0, 3-6, 14-12.
Also in the Main Draw for ISU was Hana Cho. Cho would drop her opening round match versus a UNLV opponent 2-6, 3-6, and would fall in her first consolation bracket match with a Montana State player 0-6, 3-6. In her final consolation match Cho gave it her all, but could not complete the comeback vs NAU as she just fell in a tiebreak 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-10.
In the B Draw the Bengals had Sydney Morris up first, competing against a University of Utah opponent. Morris would fall in a tough tiebreak 5-7, 6-2, 6-7 (6-8).
The next Bengal in the B Draw was Lola O'Lideadha. Lola would take care of her UNLV matchup in round one 6-3, 6-2, and defeat her second round Colorado State opponent 7-5, 6-4, but could not get it done in the Round of 16, falling to her University of Utah matchup in three sets, 6-2, 0-6, 2-6. In the consolation bracket O'Lideadha took care of her Weber State matchup 6-4, 6-4, but could not get the victory in her final match of the tournament, falling to a UNLV player 4-6, 1-6.
Stefanya Shalakhova also competed in the B Draw for Idaho State. Shalakhova opened the tournament with a win versus a University of Montana player 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, but fell in the second round to a Weber State matchup 6-7 (4-7), 1-6. In the consolation bracket Shalakhova fell in her first matchup to Boise State 3-6, 2-6, and dropped her final match on the weekend to her University of Nevada opponent 3-6, 2-6.
Also in the B Draw was Asem Shoybek. Shoybek began the tournament with an opening round loss to a University of Utah player 4-6, 3-6. In the consolation matches Shoybek flipped the script, dominating her UNLV matchup 6-1, 6-0, and won her next consolation match vs Utah Tech due to injury.
The final Bengal competing in Salt Lake City was Olivia Mikkelson. Mikkelson was also in the B Draw, losing her first-round matchup against Colorado State 6-3, 6-7 (10-12), 2-6. In the consolation bracket Mikkelson would fall to New Mexico State after a tough playoff 5-7, 6-1, 4-10.
Head coach Gretchen Maloney shared her thoughts on the team's performance at the ITA Mountain Regionals "Regionals is always such a great experience for the girls. They get to play at a high-level and really work on their game. We had some really tough wins and a couple of heartbreaking losses. Overall, it gives us a plan on what we need to work on going forward to get ready for spring."
The Idaho State women's tennis team will be back in action in the spring of 2024.
