DALLAS – The Washington women’s tennis team took the courts for the first action of the 2023-24 season this morning at the SMU Invitational. Competition took place at the Skyslinger/Altec Tennis Complex and featured the Dawgs alongside Wisconsin, TCU, Arkansas, Wichita State and Kansas.
Doubles pair Astrid Olsen and Dariya Detkovskaya were the first to finish their match, defeating the University of Arkansas’ Koskel/Harvey 6-2.
Sarah-Maude Fortin and Melissa Sakar faced Wichita State’s Rosseli/Kudrytseva in a match that came down to the wire, ultimately dropping it 7-5.
“It felt so good to be back competing with the girls after a few months,” Fortin said. “The energy was great, and everyone felt really united. I’m trying to enjoy every second and have as much fun as possible.”
The final doubles match proved an even closer call than the second. Alexia Jacobs and Erika Matsuda entered a first set tiebreak with an Arkansas pair, but couldn’t hold on to momentum as Arkansas’ Stara/ODonnell took the tiebreaker 7-6 (3).
Sakar agreed with Fortin that it was refreshing to battle once again alongside her team.
“It was so nice to be back on the court with my Dawgs,” Sakar shared. “It was incredible to be back and competing in that environment. Here’s to my last year of college tennis!”
Sakar bounced back from her doubles defeat to oust her SMU opponent in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Alexia Jacobs picked up her first singles win as a Husky today. She defeated SMU’s McGinley in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.
Fortin also only needed two sets of action, defeating Kansas’ Kuba 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles
Singles
- Erika Matsuda (UW) def. Morris (SMU), 7-6, 6-3
- Mavor (SMU) def. Astrid Olsen (UW), 4-6, 2-6
- Sarah-Maude Fortin (UW) def. Kuba (Kansas), 6-4, 6-2
- Alexia Jacobs (UW) def. McGinley (SMU), 6-3, 7-6
- Costache (Kansas) def. Dariya Detkovskaya (UW) 3-6, 7-5, 5-10
- Melissa Sakar (UW) def. Makoric (SMU), 6-2, 6-2
- Massey (Kansas) def. Yolanda Lin (UW) 7-6, 7-6
The Huskies will be back in action for day two of the tournament. For all three days of the invitational, doubles play will begin at 9 a.m. CT, with singles play to follow, beginning around 10 a.m. CT.
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