Bobcat Women Capture Fourth Straight Win in 6-1 Victory over North Dakota

Sunday, April 20

Bozeman, MT

TBA

Montana State University

North Dakota

Fresman Laura Middel recorded a 6-1, 6-1 win over North Dakota's Stephanie Petsis on Sunday morning.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Bobcat Women Capture Fourth Straight Win in 6-1 Victory over North Dakota

4/20/2014 6:03:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Middel and Crum won their 12th straight match at No. 2 doubles. The duo has registered an overall record of 13-2 and a 9-1 mark in conference action.

By: Tom Schulz

Freshman Laura Middel was all business on Senior Day as the Montana State women's tennis team cruised to a 6-1 victory over North Dakota to close out the regular-season with its fourth straight win Sunday morning in the Anderson Tennis Center.

Middel, a native of Hoogezand, Netherlands, combined with senior Ellie Crum at No. 2 doubles to post an 8-3 win over UND's Mikaela Bennett and Stephanie Biehn, en route to capturing the doubles point. UND defaulted at No. 3 doubles and MSU's No. 1 tandem of Paulina Lopez and Jessica Brycki posted an 8-6 win to close out play.

Middel and Crum won their 12^th straight match at No. 2 doubles. The duo has registered an overall record of 13-2 and a 9-1 mark in conference action.

"It's nice to be playing our best tennis, in both singles and doubles heading in to the Big Sky Tournament," MSU head coach Denise Albrecht said. "Our No. 2 doubles team is nails, and that means we have to at least get one win coming from either No. 1 or No. 3 and that takes a little pressure off. The doubles point is key in team tennis."

MSU quickly went up 3-0 as Middel dispatched UND's Stephanie Petsis 6-1, 6-1, coupled with a North Dakota default at No. 6 singles. North Dakota earned its only point as Callie Ronkowski downed Paulina Lopez 6-4, 6-0 at No. 2 singles.

Bobcat senior Wena Tsan clinched the match with a straight set 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles, followed by Ellie Crum's 6-3, 6-2 win at the No. 3 spot. Freshman Molly Crum closed out the scoring with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles.

"The seniors really wanted to go out with a win and they got it done," Albrecht said. "And, Laura Middel was all business. We are the little engine that could."

Picked to finish sixth in the preseason coach's poll, the Bobcats tied for fourth with Portland State and Northern Colorado in the win column. Portland State finished with a 6-3 mark as their match with Montana earlier this season was canceled and not made up.

Based on winning percentage, PSU (6-3) will get the No. 4 seed and will play No. 5 Montana State (6-4) in the opening round of next week's Big Sky Tournament. No. 3 Sacramento State (7-3) will face No. 6 Northern Colorado (6-4). The Bobcats defeated Sacramento State, Portland State and Northern Colorado. Montana will hold the No. 1 seed and Northern Arizona the No. 2 seed.

The Big Sky Tournament is slated to begin on Friday in Sacramento, Calif.

Montana State 6, North Dakota 1. Singles: 1. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. PETSIS, Stephanie (UND) 6-1, 6-1; 2. RONKOWSKI, Callie (UND) def. LOPEZ, Paulina (MSU) 6-4, 6-0; 3. CRUM, Ellie (MSU) def. BIEHN, Stephanie (UND) 6-3, 6-2; 4. TSAN, Wena (MSU) def. BENNETT, Mikaela (UND) 6-3, 6-3 5. CRUM, Molly (MSU) def. CARLSON, Alyssa (UND) 6-0, 6-0; 6. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. (UND), by default. Doubles: 1. LOPEZ, Paulina/BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. PETSIS, Stephanie/RONKOWSKI, Callie (UND) 8-6; 2. MIDDEL, Laura/CRUM, Ellie (MSU) def. BENNETT, Mikaela/BIEHN, Stephanie (UND) 8-3; 3. TSAN, Wena/CRUM, Molly (MSU) def. (UND), by default

Match Notes:
North Dakota 6-13, 3-7
Montana State 9-10, 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,2,4,3,5)
Official: Jesse Peach T-3:09 A-50