It has not been a season to remember for the Cougs, but it is about time the tide turns and the team gets some momentum going in Conference play. In the final home match of the 2023 regular season, the Cougs hope to get at least one win. 

Following two losses against Arizona and Arizona State, WSU tennis (7-8, 0-4 Pac-12) returns to action against the Oregon Ducks (10-4, 3-1). 

Oregon has taken down ranked Conference opponents in Arizona and Utah but lost to Arizona State. By comparison rules, their win against the Wildcats proves them to be the better team. 

While that certainly is the case, WSU still holds an all-time record advantage against Phil Knight’s alma mater and favorite school. Coming into the match, the Cougs are 17-15 against the Ducks and have won three of the last four matches. 

Last season’s road loss to the Ducks snapped a three-game winning streak that WSU had going, but all matches have been close. Since March 2009, just one of 13 matches resulted in a sweep, with six finishing within two points. 

WSU is still trying to prove what kind of team they can be in the 2023 season despite the injury to Maxine Murphy. Filling in at the No.1 spot, Eva Alvarez Sande has had multiple bright spots, but the middle of the rotation has struggled at times during the season. 

With this match being the final home one of the regular season, if the Cougs want to avoid a severely disappointing year, a win must happen. After this match, they spend all of April traveling to other Pac-12 schools to finish off their season. 

The match against Oregon is set for noon Friday on the WSU Outdoor Tennis Courts.