Despite blustery winds over the weekend, the Sun Devils were able to sweep Sacramento State and Saint Mary’s College.
“It’s nice to have the two wins under our belt,” coach Sheila McInerney said. “Now we have time to work, and everyone’s in a good, positive place.”
Play started on Friday against Sacramento State with ASU sweeping the doubles matches.
The pair of senior Sianna Simmons and freshman Leighann Sahagun took the first Sun Devils’ victory. They defeated sophomores Katharina Knoebl and Sophie Lohscheidt, 8–3.
Sophomore Jacqueline Cako and junior Hannah James also won their match, defeating senior Tatsiana Kapshai and junior Rebeca Delgado, 8–5.
Senior Michelle Brycki and freshman Joanna Smith beat seniors Maria Meliuk and Clarisse Baca, 8–6.
On the singles court, the Sun Devils were just as dominant, taking five of the six matchups.
Brycki defeated Baca 6–3, 6–0, shutting out the senior Hornet in the second set.
No. 6 Cako beat Sacramento State’s Kapshai 6–2, 6–2, to take the third point of the day for ASU.
Simmons defeated Lohscheidt in a long fought three-setter, going 6–1, 6–7 (4), 6–2.
“Sianna played well,” McInerney said. “Lohscheidt is a good player, and Sianna was able to overcome (that) and take care of business.”
On Saturday, the Sun Devils faced No. 20 Saint Mary’s College, who entered the weekend’s play on a hot streak.
After a tiring day, ASU was able to best St. Mary’s, defeating the team 4–3.
“The match against St. Mary’s was much tougher,” McInerney said. “But we played well in doubles and started strong in singles.”
The pair of Brycki and Smith proved successful again, taking the first point of the match. They defeated sophomore Jenny Jullien and freshman Catherine Leduc, 8–3.
At the No. 1 spot, Cako delivered a strong performance and defeated junior Catherine Isip 6–0, 6–2.
Brycki dropped her singles match to Jullien after a close second set, but Simmons stayed steady and beat sophomore Jade Frampton 6–4, 6–3.
ASU was up 3–0 over Saint Mary’s, but the Gaels battled back and made it 3–2.
Then, all eyes turned to freshman Joanna Smith as she competed against Leduc.
Despite losing her first set and leading, then losing in the second set, Smith pushed through and won the match, clinching the win for ASU.
Smith said after she won, McInerney told her, to her surprise, she had clinched the match.
“It feels really good just being able to pull it through for the team,” Smith said.
This is the second time Smith has clinched a win for the Sun Devils, and McInerney is proud of the freshman.
“Joanna gets nervous out there, but she works really, really hard, and she deserves everything she’s getting,” McInerney said.
Next up the Sun Devils head north to play Washington State in Pullman, Wash. on March 18.
The team will take a short break from practicing to rest and give juniors Nicole Smith and Hannah James time to recover from minor injuries.
“We’re getting better (and) getting tougher,” McInerney said. “We had a lot of long wins this weekend, and to come through and win means we gained confidence.”
Reach the reporter at dkmcinty@asu.edu
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