POCATELLO, Idaho - The College of Idaho women's tennis team opened its weekend road swing Thursday afternoon with a 7-0 setback to NCAA Division I Idaho State at Reed Gym.
Facing a Bengals squad competing at the Division I level, the Yotes (4-6) battled throughout doubles and singles play against Idaho State (5-4), gaining valuable experience against one of the region's top programs.
Idaho State secured the doubles point with wins at all three positions. At No. 1 doubles, Nicole Tran and Berkley Klarich took on Stefanya Shalakhova and Veronika Zarovna, while Lina Boylan and Kinsey Lockhart competed at the No. 2 spot. Alyssa Johnson and Adele Long rounded out doubles action at No. 3.
In singles, the Bengals' depth proved decisive, but the Yotes continued to compete across the lineup. Klarich faced Millie Day at No. 1 singles, with Long, Lockhart and Johnson each stepping into challenging matchups in the middle of the order. Tran battled at No. 5, and Kylie Barrus closed out the lineup at No. 6.
Though the final score favored the host Bengals, the match marked another opportunity for the Yotes to test themselves against Division I competition early in the season. Competing against a higher-division opponent provides critical match experience as College of Idaho prepares for conference play in the NAIA ranks.
The Yotes continue their road trip this weekend with additional nonconference action as they look to build momentum heading into the heart of their spring schedule.
