Cowgirls Win a Marathon Over Fresno State in Thrilling Fashion

Kevin DeVries, Athletic Communications Coordinator — Tennis, Volleyball and Women's Basketball

Wyoming faced multiple match points at No. 6 singles before rallying in five-plus hours match

LARAMIE, Wyo. (April 5, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowgirl tennis team won a marathon, roller coaster of a match Friday afternoon in Laramie to begin their three-match homestand. The Cowgirls bested Fresno State, 4-3. Time of the match took over five hours.

Wyoming (13-8, 4-2 MW) got out to an early 2-0 lead behind the strength of winning the doubles point and earning a quick straight-sets victory at the No. 2 singles spot. In doubles, Noesjka Brink and Nikol Dobrilova won 6-3 at the No. 2 position, while at No. 3, Jeselle Ante and Lucia Malinak came out on top, 6-1.

The Bulldogs would win three of the first four singles contests to take a 3-2 match lead before UW rallied to win at No. 5 and 6 singles. Facing multiple match points in the second set, trailing 6-5, Malinak staged an incredible rally to bring Wyoming back for the win at the fifth position. Malinak won 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-2 to clinch the victory for UW.

Brink continued her stellar season by making quick work at the second singles position. Brink won handily, 6-0 and 6-1. Dobrilova got the Cowgirls’ other singles win, rallying 3-6, 6-2 and 6-1 at the No. 5 spot. Dobrilova’s win tied the match at 3-3.

“Guts was the difference tonight, that’s all it was,” said Head Coach Dean Clower after the match.

“Yes, we played structured and disciplined, allowing us to come back, but it was about heart. That’s why we won.”

UW continues the homestand and closes the weekend at 10 a.m., Sunday against San Jose State from the Laramie Tennis Complex.

Wyoming vs. Fresno State
4/5/2024 in Laramie, Wyo.

Wyoming 4, Fresno State 3
Doubles competition
1. Borodina/Zehender (WYO) vs. Kobayahsi/Magrini (FSU) 3-5, unfinished
2. Brink/Dobrilova (WYO) def. Dunbar/Piferi (FSU) 6-3
3. Ante/Malinak (WYO) def. Gisclon/Pieper (FSU) 6-1

Singles competition
1. Magrini (FSU) def. Zehender (WYO) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Brink (WYO) def. Kobayashi (FSU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Piferi (FSU) def. Borodina (WYO) 6-1, 5-7, 6-0
4. Gisclon (FSU) def. Ante (WYO) 7-5, 6-4
5. Dobrilova (WYO) def. Vyshkina (FSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
6. Malinak (WYO) def. Pieper (FSU) 4-6, 7-6, (7-4), 6-2