SEATTLE – The Huskies showered desert schools in ‘Purple Reign’ after sweeping schools in Arizona this week. It wasn’t easy when the 21stSt-Ranked Dawgs survived a rough effort by the 57thth-Ranked Wildcats today. The match went back and forth, eventually ending on Court #3, where Astrid Olsen fended off Midori Castillo-Meza 7:5, 7:6 (6) and secured the 4:3 victory. The Huskies remain unbeaten in conference play 4-0 and are 12-3 in the season with six straight wins.
Washington failed in doubles to go 0-1 in singles but then had three straight singles wins to take a 3-1 lead before Arizona responded with the next two singles wins to level it.
The 77thth-Rang Olsen and Castillo-Meza then had all eyes on them. In the first set, Olsen held a 5-1 lead before Castillo-Meza fought back 5-5, but Olsen got the next two games to win the set. Olsen then led most of the second, leading 5-3, but Castillo-Meza caught up again. Olsen had a match point at Deuce leading 6-5, but the UA player blocked it to force a tie break. In the breaker, Castillo-Meza went 6-5 to hold a set point, but Olsen saved that one and then went up 7-6 for their first match point in the tiebreak and second overall. After a long rally, Castillo-Meza just missed to spark the husky celebration.
“Astrid worked so hard,” said head coach Robin Stephenson. “To be out last year with an injury after moving here. It’s so great to see the hard work pay off. She works as hard as everyone else and gives her all to this team. Super proud on them and the whole team. Today was a team We came out a bit slow in doubles and Arizona played one hell of a match Very impressed with them We had to regroup in singles and that cost everyone today A great one Victory.
Of Washington’s four Pac-12 wins, Olsen now has three. This week she did it in the presence of her mother, who was visiting from her native Norway.
“It was very close,” said Olsen. “I just want to make my mom really happy, so I’d better get up and do the work when she’s here. In the end I made it, so I’m glad. She is a blast and gives me so much energy. I’m thankful that she’s pumping me up like that. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Mom, relax, I’ve got it.’ But it reminds me to be alert and stay on the gas.”
In double, Hikaru Sato And Zehra Suko lost a tough fight to Salma Ziouti and Reece Carter (3-6) at No. 1 in singles. Olsen and Jennifer Kerr went back and forth with Parker Fry and Kayla Wilkins in doubles No. 2. Fry and Wilkins prevailed, defeating Olsen and Kerr (4-6) and awarding the colon to Arizona.
The Dawgs started their singles games strong with three straight singles wins before Arizona came back to tie it.
Jennifer Kerr put the Huskies on the board with mirror set wins (6-1, 6-1) over 4th-ranked singles Kayla Wilkins. The game remained a draw until Hikaru Sato took charge, losing just one game in her second set and defeating Salma Ziouti (7-5, 6-1) at No. 1 in singles. Erika Matsuda gave the Huskies their third straight singles win after defeating Parker Fry in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) in 6th place singles.
Reece Carter broke the UW streak and defeated Sarah Maude Fortin, 7-6 (5), 7-5, ranked 2 singles. Lexi Ryngler ends the match after losing Melissa Sakar7-6(0), 6-3, at No. 5 singles.
The Huskies will have a quick turnaround for another non-conference game at 44th-Rank San Diego on Tuesday, March 21 at 1:30 p.m
Washington women’s tennis
March 19, 2023
Seattle,Washington | Bill Quillian Stadium
#21 Washington – 4th
#57 Arizona – 3rd
singles
1. (#110) Hikaru Sato (UW) def. Salma Ziouti (UA) – 7-5, 6-1
2. Reece Carter (UA) defeated. (#105) Sarah Maude Fortin (UW) – 7-6(5), 7-5
3rd (#77) Astrid Olsen (UW) def. Midori Castillo-Meza (UA) – 7-5, 7-6 (6)
4. (#120) Jennifer Kerr (UW) def. Kayla Wilkins (UA) – 6-1, 6-1
5. Lexi Ryngler (UA) defeated. Melissa Sakar (UW) – 7-6(0), 6-3
6. Erika Matsuda (UW) def. Parker Fry (UA) – 6-3, 6-4
Order of finishes: 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 3
double
1. Ziouti/Carter (UA) def. Suko/Sato (UA) – 6-3
2. Fry/Wilkins (UA) def. Kerr/Olsen (UW) – 6-4
3. Fortin/Matsuda (UW) vs Nevenhoven/Castillo-Meza (UA) – 5-5, DNF
Ranking: 1, 2
