WACO, Texas – Last season ended in Waco, this season the Husky women’s tennis team hopes it’s just a stepping stone to bigger and better things. No. 26 Washington (7-3) got payback for an NCAA first round loss last spring, defeating 37th-ranked Baylor by a 5-2 count at the Hawkins Tennis Center.
The Huskies lost the doubles point but then won five of the six singles matches to take down the Bears. The clincher came on court five, where junior Melissa Sakar pulled out a 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Paula Barañano to give the Huskies the insurmountable 4-1 lead.
Prior to that, 93rd-ranked senior Jennifer Kerr had a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles over Liubov Kostenko, improving to 7-1 in singles play. Then freshman Erika Matsuda got a win at No. 6 over Daniella Dimitrov, 7-5, 6-2. Astrid Olsen then won by a matching 7-5, 6-2 line over Anita Sahdiieva at No. 3 singles to make it 3-1 Dawgs.
After clinching, senior Hikaru Sato completed a big win at No. 1 singles over 109th-ranked Alina Shcherbinina, 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-3.
The win helps the Huskies keep the ball rolling after the team had a week off following the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. UW was scheduled to face San Diego on Saturday in Waco, but the Toreros had to cancel their trip. UW now will host Seattle U. next Wednesday before starting Pac-12 play next Friday, Mar. 3, against UCLA.
Washington Women’s Tennis
February 24, 2023
Waco, Texas | Hawkins Tennis Center
#26 Washington – 5
#37 Baylor – 2
Singles
1. (#100) Hikaru Sato (UW) def. (#109) Alina Shcherbinina (Bay) – 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-3
2. (#94) Isavella Harvison (Bay) def. Sarah-Maude Fortin (UW) – 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
3. Astrid Olsen (UW) def. Anita Sahdiieva (Bay) – 7-5, 6-2
4. (#93) Jennifer Kerr (UW) def. Liubov Kostenko (Bay) – 6-4, 6-1
5. Melissa Sakar (UW) def. Paula Barañano (Bay) – 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
6. Erika Matsuda (UW) def. Daniella Dimitrov (Bay) – 7-5, 6-2
Order of finish: 4, 6, 3, 5, 1, 2
Doubles
1. Harvison/Sahdiieva (Bay) def. Sato/Suko (UW) – 6-2
2. Shcherbinina / Barañano (Bay) def. Olsen/Kerr (UW) – 7-6 (2)
3. Fortin/Matsuda (UW) def. Kostenko/Thompson (Bay) – 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
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