Bobcat Netters Finish Season with 4-3 Loss to Northern Arizona
4/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis
The Montana State-Northern Arizona match came down to the No. 5 singles competition between Remy Clark and Lumberjack Paij Porter. Porter, a sophomore from Mesa, Ariz., pulled out a dramatic 6-4, 6-3 victory to send the Lumberjacks into the championship.
The match lasted well over an hour after the other matches ended, leaving the two at center stage in 90-degree heat. The final point was one by Porter after Clark put a ball into the net after 64 volleys. Another point featured 62 volleys.
"It was an exact repeat of what happened last time," said NAU head coach Kim Bruno, referring to NAU's 4-3 regular-season win over the Bobcats. “I know that NAU women's tennis is about heart, it's about mental toughness. It's about getting over 100 balls in the tennis court, doing what it takes to win here. Montana State is a very, very tough team. We knew it was going to be a battle in these conditions. I'm nothing but proud and excited for the big show."
Northern Arizona won the doubles point, but it went down to the wire. After Northern Arizona's Katie Schurr and Leslie Vail won at No. 1 doubles, and Montana State's McKenzie Hilmer and Laura Villegas won 8-4 at No. 3, NAU's Susan McClelland and Patrice Biemold held on for an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles to secure the point.
Northern Arizona went up 2-0 when sophomore Leslie Vial beat Katy Proietti 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
Montana State closed to 2-1 on Villegas' 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4. Northern Arizona quickly moved back up 3-1 thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 win by Stacey Pinchbeck at No. 6.
The Bobcats quickly closed the gap to 3-3 as Nicole Luetolf closed out Schurr 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2 and Nuria Hernandez beat Biemold at No. 1 7-6 (9-7) 6-2.
“It was a battle and I couldn’t be more proud of the way we played,” said MSU women’s coach Denise Albrecht. “Early in the season we faced adversity and the girls rallied together as a team. They way we finished the year was super; and it is definitely something we will build upon as we look to next season.”
Montana State ended its season at 11-12 overall and 5-2 in Big Sky play. The Bobcats also finished the spring winning eight of ten matches.
Northern Arizona 4, Montana State 3. Singles: 1. Nuria Hernandez, MSU def. Patrice Biemold, NAU, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2; 2. Nicole Luetolf, MSU, def. Katie Schurr, NAU, 7-5, 6-1; 3. Leslie Vail, NAU, def. Katy Proietti, MSU, 6-0, 6-1; 4. Laura Villegas, MSU, def. Susan McClelland, NAU, 6-2, 6-1; 5. Paij Porter, NAU, def. Remy Clark, MSU, 6-4, 6-3; 6. Stacey Pinchbeck, NAU, def. McKenzie Hilmer 6-4, 6-3. (Order of finish: 3, 4, 6, 2, 1, 5). Doubles: 1. Schurr/Vail, NAU, def. Allison Fey/Proietti, MSU, 8-1; 2. McClelland/Biemold, NAU, def. Hernandez/Luetolf, MSU, 8-6; 3. Hilmer/Villegas, MSU, def. Newman/Porter, NAU, 8-4. (Order of finish: 1, 3, 2).
The match lasted well over an hour after the other matches ended, leaving the two at center stage in 90-degree heat. The final point was one by Porter after Clark put a ball into the net after 64 volleys. Another point featured 62 volleys.
"It was an exact repeat of what happened last time," said NAU head coach Kim Bruno, referring to NAU's 4-3 regular-season win over the Bobcats. “I know that NAU women's tennis is about heart, it's about mental toughness. It's about getting over 100 balls in the tennis court, doing what it takes to win here. Montana State is a very, very tough team. We knew it was going to be a battle in these conditions. I'm nothing but proud and excited for the big show."
Northern Arizona won the doubles point, but it went down to the wire. After Northern Arizona's Katie Schurr and Leslie Vail won at No. 1 doubles, and Montana State's McKenzie Hilmer and Laura Villegas won 8-4 at No. 3, NAU's Susan McClelland and Patrice Biemold held on for an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles to secure the point.
Northern Arizona went up 2-0 when sophomore Leslie Vial beat Katy Proietti 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
Montana State closed to 2-1 on Villegas' 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4. Northern Arizona quickly moved back up 3-1 thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 win by Stacey Pinchbeck at No. 6.
The Bobcats quickly closed the gap to 3-3 as Nicole Luetolf closed out Schurr 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2 and Nuria Hernandez beat Biemold at No. 1 7-6 (9-7) 6-2.
“It was a battle and I couldn’t be more proud of the way we played,” said MSU women’s coach Denise Albrecht. “Early in the season we faced adversity and the girls rallied together as a team. They way we finished the year was super; and it is definitely something we will build upon as we look to next season.”
Montana State ended its season at 11-12 overall and 5-2 in Big Sky play. The Bobcats also finished the spring winning eight of ten matches.
Northern Arizona 4, Montana State 3. Singles: 1. Nuria Hernandez, MSU def. Patrice Biemold, NAU, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2; 2. Nicole Luetolf, MSU, def. Katie Schurr, NAU, 7-5, 6-1; 3. Leslie Vail, NAU, def. Katy Proietti, MSU, 6-0, 6-1; 4. Laura Villegas, MSU, def. Susan McClelland, NAU, 6-2, 6-1; 5. Paij Porter, NAU, def. Remy Clark, MSU, 6-4, 6-3; 6. Stacey Pinchbeck, NAU, def. McKenzie Hilmer 6-4, 6-3. (Order of finish: 3, 4, 6, 2, 1, 5). Doubles: 1. Schurr/Vail, NAU, def. Allison Fey/Proietti, MSU, 8-1; 2. McClelland/Biemold, NAU, def. Hernandez/Luetolf, MSU, 8-6; 3. Hilmer/Villegas, MSU, def. Newman/Porter, NAU, 8-4. (Order of finish: 1, 3, 2).
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