Montana State Women’s Tennis Team Clips Eagles for Final Spot in Big Sky Tourney
4/17/2010 3:51:14 PM | Women's Tennis
Montana State sophomore Jennifer Coll held off two match points and rallied from a 5-2 third set deficit to post a 3-6, 7-6, 7-6(2) win over Eastern Washington’s Judy Liening at No. 5 singles to lift the Bobcats to a 4-3 win over the Eagles and giving MSU the fourth and final spot in the Big Sky Conference tournament next weekend in Sacramento, Calif.
Montana State sophomore Jennifer Coll held off two match points and rallied from a 5-2 third set deficit to post a 3-6, 7-6, 7-6(2) win over Eastern Washington's Judy Liening at No. 5 singles to lift the Bobcats to a 4-3 win over the Eagles and giving MSU the fourth and final spot in the Big Sky Conference tournament next weekend in Sacramento, Calif.
“Unbelievable,” said MSU head coach Denise Albrecht. “This team has had its back to the wall the entire season, but they continue to dig down deep and scrap for every point and their hard work just continues to payoff.”
In a 'winner goes to the Big Sky tournament match,' Eastern Washington jumped out early winning the doubles point by capturing wins at Nos. 1 and 2. MSU's lone victory came at No. 3, where the tandem of Charlotta Hjalmarsson and Lucy Fairbotham posted an 8-6 victory.
Bobcat senior Laura Villegas tied the match at 1-1, cruising to a 6-0, 6-1 win over EWU's Marie Demerath at No. 2 singles. Andrea De La Torre quickly followed with a 6-3, 6-2 decision over Chelsea Patton to give MSU a 2-1 advantage.
“It was important to come out strong in singles play, after losing the doubles point,” Albrecht said. “Laura and Andrea really gave us a boost of confidence with their straight set wins.”
Kelsey Knight knotted the match at 3-3, after defeating Hjalmarsson 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 3 spot to set the stage at No. 5 singles.
Liening cruised to a first set 6-3 win and was leading in the second stanza, before Coll began her comeback.
“I finally changed my composure and starting taking it one point at a time,” Coll said.
However, in the third and final set, Coll found herself down 5-2.
“To be honest, I thought it was over,” Coll said. “I started to make some good shots and I could see (Liening) tightening up, so I took advantage.”
Liening held two match points at 6-5, but Coll fought them off to force a third set tie-breaker. With the tie-breaker even at 2-2, Coll rattled off five unanswered points for the victory.”
“I wasn't thinking about anything when I was down two match points,” Coll said. “I just relaxed and wanted to get the win for the team.”
