POCATELLO, Idaho — The Colorado Mesa women's tennis team opened the spring season Saturday with a 7-0 loss at Division I Idaho State.
The Bengals won all six singles matches in straight sets, but Devyn Rodriguez forced a second-set tiebreaker against Stefanya Shalakhova at No. 2 before losing 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Makenna Livingston hung with Asem Shoybek at No. 1 singles, losing 6-2, 6-4.
Freshman Kayla Huish dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision at No. 6, and Jade Brilhante, a junior transfer from Northern Arizona, lost 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 singles. The middle of the Bengals' lineup lost only one game at No. 3 and No. 4 against Delia Maier and Catalina Ballon Marin.
Livingston and Maier forced a tiebreaker in their No. 2 doubles match before losing to Shalakhova and Veronika Zarovna 7-6 (7-1). Idaho State won the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles matches by identical 6-2 scores.
Jane Steur won her exhibition singles match 7-5 over Zarovna.
The teams play another dual Sunday at Reed Gym in Pocatello. After a week off, the Mavericks will head to Arizona for three matches. Colorado Mesa does not have a home match until April 4-5 when the Mavs host MSU Denver, CSU Pueblo and Colorado College at the Elliott Tennis Center.
