Eastern Washington plays final match against Portland State

Cheney Free Press

CHENEY —The 2022-23 season closed out for Eastern Washington women’s tennis on Sunday (April 16) against Portland State as the team celebrated senior day. Eastern celebrated Renata Gabuzyan prior to the match as the senior played her final match for the Eagles. Portland St. went on to take the match, 5-2, over Eastern. The Eagles end the season 4-12 overall and 2-6 in conference, while the Vikings improved to 11-11 overall and 5-3 in the Big Sky.

“We had a really hard-fought, competitive match today. It was a battle and we just couldn’t quite get a couple of the close matches to pull it out,” head coach Dustin Hinson said. “We really finished the season on a strong note these past few weeks.

I’m very excited about the future of Eagle Women’s Tennis. We have an amazing core group of girls coming back next season. We will work hard over the off season to come back strong and ready to compete in the fall. I’m really pleased and happy for Vasic and Mann with the winds they had today. Vasic played her best tennis of the year today to get a dominate win.

She has been out working all season and it really paid off today. Mann won her sixth-straight conference match today, which is an amazing feat in the Big Sky. Her game is really developing and she’s playing with confidence.”

The Vikings won the doubles point and then won four-straight singles matches to clinch the match.

Kenzington Mann grabbed a win at the No. 5 singles spot, defeating Nell Arendt in three sets. Mann won the first set 6-2, but dropped the second 5-7. She elevated her game in the third set, cruising to a 10-3 win.

At the No. 6 spot, Sara Vasic earned her first career singles win, defeating Emily Rees in two sets (6-2, 6-4).

Gabuzyan battled tough at No. 3, going three sets against Nika Beukers, but falling short of the match win.

The Richmond, British Columbia native finished with 22 career wins and 14 in Big Sky matches. Gabuzyan had 18 doubles wins and 10 in conference for her career. She earned and All-Big Sky honorable mention for the 2020-21 season and won a Big Sky player of the week award that same season. Gabuzyan was also a three-time All-Big Sky Academic honoree and a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete.

Results

Singles

Masha Ponomareva def. Scout Mathews (6-3, 6-3)

Elizabeth Strongina def. Jennifer Kida (6-4, 6-4)

Nika Beukers def. Renata Gabuzyan (2-6, 7-5, 6-4)

Makoto Ohara def. Leandra Nizetic (2-6, 7-5, 6-2)

Kenzington Mann def. Nell Arendt (6-2, 5-7, 10-3)

Sara Vasic def. Emily Rees (6-2, 6-4)

Doubles

Masha Ponomareva / Capu Sanoner def. Scout Mathews / Isabella Foshee (6-4)

Nika Beukers / Nell Arendt def. Renata Gabuzyan / Jennifer Kida (7-5)

Makoto Ohara / Emily Rees def. Kenzington Mann / Leandra Nizetic (6-4)