Last Saturday afternoon, on senior day, the 49th-ranked Washington women’s tennis team took on the 12th-ranked Arizona State University Sun Devils. Other than an emotional tribute to the seniors, it was all smiles for the Huskies as they stunned ASU in a 4-3 victory.

It was seniors Allison Rainey and Tara Simpson’s last home match, and coach Jill Hultquist honored them with a tribute.

“The thing I love about Allison is her drive to succeed,” she said.

Although Rainey was sidelined for the latter part of the season due to illness, she has made a significant contribution to the team, playing mostly at the number six singles position this season.

“She works so hard … she’ll be out on the court for four hours if she has to,” Hultquist added.

Likewise, Simpson has been key to the team’s success this season, starting in every match.

“She’s so sweet and naïve,” Hultquist explained, “but when she gets on the court she flips the switch … [and] gives 100 percent every time.”

Although Washington dropped the doubles point to start by losing two of the three matches, Simpson, along with her doubles partner, sophomore Joyce Ardies, the only team to win their doubles match, were on form as they proceeded to win their singles matches as well as ASU. Simpson finished first with a quick 6-3, 6-1 win, and Ardies prevailed in a three-setter, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

Freshman Kelsey Anonsen also made a notch for Washington on the win side, wearing down her opponent 7-5, 6-0, but the clinching match came from another freshman on the starting lineup, Venise Chan, at number one singles.

She battled through a three-setter with a third set tiebreak against her 6’2’’ opponent, Nadia Abdala from ASU, and came through with a well-earned victory by upsetting yet another ranked opponent this season 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Immediately following the unforced error that Abdala made to give Chan the match, the Huskies rushed toward her in celebration for closing out their home slate this season on a high note.

[Reach reporter Sheena Nguyen at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]