Women’s Tennis Claims Third-Straight League Win in 4-3 Victory Over No. 58 Fresno State

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- With a win against the reigning Mountain West Tournament Champions already under its belt, the Air Force women's tennis team can now claim the 2022-23 regular season champions to their list of victories this spring, as the Falcons defeated No. 58 Fresno State, 4-3 - Earning their third-straight win and second against an ITA-ranked opponent in as many weeks, improving to 3-1 against league competition.

Air Force's (7-8, 3-1 MW) victory opened with the Falcons' fourth-straight-earned doubles point and twelfth of the season.

The Falcons' court one pairing of Sydney Fitch/Alexis Odom earned a 7-5 win against Fresno's Pang Jittakoat/Matilde Magrini, earning their fourth-straight doubles win and improving to 9-2.

On line two, Air Force's Isabella Flodin/Abby Cotuna improved to 8-2 after defeating Christina Flaquer/Mariya Vyshkina 6-4, snapping a two-match skid.

Singles competition was once again dominated by the back half of the Falcons' lineup, as freshmen Abby Cotuna/Arianna Van Houweling both earned straight-set victories on lines five and six.

On court six, Arianna Van Houweling won her second singles match of the weekend, defeating Leann Serna, 6-3, 6-0 to claim her tenth win of the season - all ten of which have been earned in straight sets.

It was junior Isabella Flodin on court two who clinched the team win for the Falcons, going three sets with Fresno State's Matilde Magrini and taking the third 6-4 after trailing to clinch the 4-3 team victory.

From Head Coach Kim Gidley:
"For the second weekend in a row, the team clinches 4-3 in a come-from-behind third set match against a nationally ranked program. Fresno State is no. 58 in the nation and were the regular season MW champions. The team remains undefeated in conference play in doubles and came through when they needed to in the doubles point.

"Our No. 1 doubles team of Fitch and Odom remain undefeated in conference play and clinched the doubles point for the 4th time in a row. I love that they want to be there in the moment, and it was big that our No. 2 doubles came through today for the first win.

"The thing that makes this team so special is that they fight for each other and a different team or player steps it up. Although Sydney lost her singles match, her momentum in the second set helped Izzy come back from losing her first. I am so proud of how Izzy stayed the course, especially since the end of the second set and all of the third set were on her shoulders. That was just huge!"

Up Next:
Air Force women's tennis makes its return to USAFA for the Falcons' final pair of home matches, facing Boise State on Friday, Apr. 7 and Utah State the following Saturday.

Doubles Competition:
1. Fitch/Odom (AF) def. Jittakoat/Magrini (FS), 7-5
2. Flodin/Cotuna (AF) def. Flaquer/Vyshkina (FS), 6-4
3. Nonnis Marzano/PIferi (FS) def. Van Houweling/Swift, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3,2,1

Singles Competition:
1. Jittakoat (FS) def. Fitch (AF), 6-4, 7-6
2. Flodin (AF) def. Magrini (FS), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Flaquer (FS) def. Odom (AF), 6-0, 6-2
4. Piferi (FS) def. Swift (AF), 6-3, 6-1
5. Cotuna (AF) def. Nonnis Marzano (FS), 6-3, 6-2
6. Van Houweling (AF) def. Serna (FS), 6-3, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6,3,4,5,1,2

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