Courtesy of Boise State Athletics –
LAS VEGAS – Boise State women’s tennis claimed two championships at the inaugural Mountain West Fall Qualifiers, Saturday. Maya Dutta and Zdena Safarova claimed the top spot in the doubles bracket while Safarova was crowned the singles champion.
With the victories, Dutta and Safarova have earned qualification into the ITA Conference Masters. The tournament, set for Nov. 7-10 in San Diego, California, awards the four singles semi-finalists and the top three doubles teams entry into the NCAA Championships in November.
The Bronco’s duo of Dutta and Safarova powered past doubles teams from Colorado State, San Diego State, and San Jose State en route to their title. The tandem never dropped more than five games in a single set, ultimately winning the championship with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Victoria Erechtchenko and Sarah Weekley of Colorado State.
In the singles championship, Safarova battled back from a 6-2 loss in set one to win 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 over Nevada’s Amahee Charrier. She dominated the field in singles, winning all but the championship match in two sets.
Redshirt junior Lorelyz Marruffo and freshman Paula Schaefer also competed in the doubles tournament, but were edged out in their opening contest 8-5 by Wyoming’s Violetta Borodina and Dilnaz Mashabayeva.
Also playing in singles, Schaefer (0-2) and Dutta (1-1) both put up strong fights. Dutta defeated Nadia Kojonroj 6-3, 6-1 in the first round before being defeated by eventual runner-up Charrier in the round of 16. Schaefer fell 6-2, 7-5 to Matilde Magrini of Fresno State and came up short in a battle with Utah State’s Niyati Kukreti 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(6).
Quotables:
- “Today was a great day for Boise State Tennis, our program, and players,” said head coach Beck Roghaar. “Coming home as champions of the Mountain West in both singles and doubles is a big accomplishment without a doubt. These players showed great grit, heart, and poise to get the job done. They showed the championship mindset and earned it out there. The exciting part is the best is still ahead of us. I’m really proud of the work we’ve all been putting in, and we’ll keep working.”
Notables:
- Zdena Safarova has yet to lose a singles match this season, boasting a 8-0 record.
- Throughout the five matches she played during the tournament, Safarova conceded more than three games in a single set just twice.
- In doubles, Dutta and Safarova won all four of their matches in straight sets, and improved their record as a duo to 6-3.
- Freshman Maya Dutta now holds a 4-1 record in singles on the year.
What’s Next
- The Broncos will head to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to compete in the ITA Women’s Mountain Regional Championships Oct. 17-22.
Full Results
Singles
Oct. 2
R32: Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Petra Janigova (NEV) 6-2, 6-0.
R32: Maya Dutta (BOI) def. Nadia Kojonroj (SDSU) 6-3, 6-1.
R32: Matilde Magrini (FRES) def. Paula Schaefer (BOI) 6-2, 7-5.
R16: Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Coco Zhao (UNLV) 6-3, 6-1.
R16: Amahee Charrier (NEV) def. Maya Dutta (BOI) 6-4, 6-3.
Oct. 3
QF: Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Ninon Martinache (SDSU) 6-2, 6-2.
Cons: Niyati Kukreti (USU) def. Paula Schaefer (BOI) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6).
Oct. 4
SF: Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Jo-Yee Chan (SDSU) 6-1, 6-2.
Oct. 5
F: Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Amahee Charrier (NEV) 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-1.
Doubles
Oct. 2
R16: Maya Dutta / Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Viktoryia Zhadzinskaya / Paisha Douglas (CSU) 8-4.
R16: Violetta Borodina / Dilnaz Mashabayeva (WYO) def. Lorelyz Marruffo / Pauala Schaefer (BOI) 8-5.
Oct. 3
QF: Maya Dutta / Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Jo-Yee Chan / Liisa Varul (SDSU) 8-5.
Oct. 4
SF: Maya Dutta / Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Cheuk Ying / Carla Urchoeguia (SJSU) 6-2, 7-5.
Oct. 5
F: Maya Dutta / Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Victoria Erechtchenko / Sarah Weekley (CSU) 7-5, 6-4.
