Bobcat Women’s Tennis Squad Drops Opening Match at Big Sky Championships

Friday, April 26

Sacramento, CA

2 p.m.

Montana State University

Northern Arizona

Senior Char Hjalmarsson won at both No. 1 singles and doubles in her last match as a Bobcat.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Bobcat Women’s Tennis Squad Drops Opening Match at Big Sky Championships

4/26/2013 9:42:00 PM | Women's Tennis

The Montana State women’s tennis squad dropped its opening-round match to Northern Arizona in a 4-1 decision at the Big Sky Conference Tennis Championships, Friday afternoon in Sacramento, Calif.

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State women's tennis squad dropped its opening-round match to Northern Arizona in a 4-1 decision at the Big Sky Conference Tennis Championships, Friday afternoon in Sacramento, Calif.

The Bobcats entered the match as the No. 6 seed, while Northern Arizona earned the No. 3 spot.

Northern Arizona got on the board first, winning the doubles point, by virtue of victories at the Nos. 2 and 3 positions by identical 8-5 outcomes. MSU's top duo of Char Hjalmarsson and Paulina Lopez defeated NAU's Hannah Stone and Johanna Vang to post its team-leading eighth win of the season in doubles play.

“The girls played well today,” said MSU head coach Denise Albrecht. “Considering we've been outside twice this season, I thought we played hard. We won at No. 1 doubles, and the other two spots were tightly contested. I'm proud with how they competed.”

Northern Arizona went up 2-0 as Nicole Perez defeated Liana Bates in straight sets. Hjalmarsson got Montana State on the board winning her final match as a Bobcat at No. 1 singles with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 decision over Stone. The Lumberjacks clinched the match with consecutive wins at Nos. 2 and 5 singles.

“Paulina and Ellie (Crum) didn't finish, but they were battling,” Albrecht said. “Paulina was up in the third set and Ellie was playing great. We left everything we had out on the court. It was great for Char to win both singles and doubles in her last collegiate match, and with her parents from Sweden in attendance.”

The Bobcats, who closed out the season winning three of five matches, lose the services of Hjalmarsson to graduation next season.

In the other first round match, Southern Utah defeated Northern Colorado 4-1.

Northern Arizona 4, Montana State 1. Singles- 1. HJALMARSSON, Char (MSU) def. STONE, Hannah (NAU) 6-1, 6-2; 2. DOBALLAH, Ghizelene (NAU) def. PARAPUNOVA, Iva (MSU) 6-1, 6-4; 3. VANG, Johanna (NAU) vs. LOPEZ TREVINO, Pauli (MSU) unfinished; 4. WAHINEPIO, Malia (NAU) vs. CRUM, Ellie (MSU) unfinished; 5. PACAUT, Alice (NAU) def. TSAN, Wena (MSU) 6-2, 6-1; 6. PEREZ, Nicole (NAU) def. BATES, Liana (MSU) 6-1, 6-0. Doubles- 1. HJALMARSSON, Char/LOPEZ TREVINO, Pauli (MSU) def. STONE, Hannah/VANG, Johanna (NAU) 8-3; 2. PEREZ, Nicole/DOBALLAH, Ghizelene (NAU) def. PARAPUNOVA, Iva/BATES, Liana (MSU) 8-5; 3. WAHINEPIO, Malia/PACAUT, Alice (NAU) def. CRUM, Ellie/TSAN, Wena (MSU) 8-5.