Courtesy of Boise State Athletics – 

LAS VEGAS – Boise State cruised past Fresno State in its first match of the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championship on Thursday, defeating the Bulldogs 4-0.

With the victory, the No. 4 Broncos (17-5) advance to the semifinal round for the second time over the last three seasons. Boise State will face off against San Diego State on Friday at noon MT.

Paula Schafer and Bhakti Shah began the onslaught with a 6-1 victory from the No. 3 doubles position. Not long after, Maya Dutta and Zdena Safarov followed suit with a 6-4 victory from the top doubles spot to put the Broncos on the board.

Dutta continued her dominance, defeating Fresno State’s Sofia Pizzoni 6-0, 6-1 from the No. 2 position to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead. Shah was victorious minutes later, claiming a 6-2, 6-1 victory from court three.

Safarova earned the clinching point for the Blue and Orange, taking down Matilde Magrini 6-3, 6-1 to move the Broncos into the semifinal round.

Notables
• Boise State advances to the semifinal round of the MW Tournament for the second time over the last three seasons.
• The Broncos recorded their second sweep at the MW Tournament in program history. Boise State had previously swept Utah State on April 26, 2023.
• Zdena Safarova has won 12 consecutive matches and remains undefeated against conference opponents.
• Zdena Safarova picked up her 18th win of the season from the No. 1 position, tying Gaye McManus (1996-97) for the most victories from the top spot on the season.
• Safarova has won 91.4% (32-3) of her singles matches between the fall and spring seasons, which is currently the highest single-season win percentage in program history. She holds a lead over Tiffany Coll’s 90% win percentage set in 2006.
• All six of Maya Dutta’s wins against conference opponents have come in straight sets.
• Bhakti Shah picked up her 10th win from the No. 3 position on the season.
• Boise State defeated Fresno State twice on the year, marking the first time the program has done so since the 2009-10 season.

What’s Next
No. 4 Boise State advances to the semifinal round to face off against No. 1 San Diego State. First serve will occur at noon MT on Friday, April 25.

Full Results
Boise State (17-5) def. Fresno State (14-9) 4-0
Doubles (Order of finish: 3,1)
1. Maya Dutta/Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Eliza Dunbar/Matilde Magrini (FRST) 6-4
2. Ryan Kershner/Lorelyz Marruffo (BOI) vs. Paulina Montiel/Sofia Pizzoni (FRST) 4-4 unfinished
3. Paula Schafer/Bhakti Shah (BOI) def. Charlotte Gisclon/Klara Vukicevic (FRST) 6-1

Singles (Order of finish: 2,3,1)
1. Zdena Safarova (BOI) def. Matilde Magrini (FRST) 6-3, 6-1
2. Maya Dutta (BOI) def. Sofia Pizzoni (FRST) 6-0, 6-1
3. Bhakti Shah (BOI) def. Yinglak Jittakoat (FRST) 6-2, 6-1
4. Paula Schaefer (BOI) vs. Andjela Lopicic (FRST) 6-4, 2-3 unfinished
5. Lorelyz Marruffo (BOI) vs. Elisa Dunbar (FRST) 3-6, 2-3 unfinished
6. Ariadna Briones Ginesta (BOI) vs. Paulina Montiel (FRST) 6-2, 2-5 unfinished