Montana State Women’s Tennis Team Trees Bears

Friday, February 27

Greeley, CO

TBA

Montana State University

University of Northern Colorado

Laura Middel had a pair of wins at No. 1 singles.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

2/28/2015 7:04:00 PM | Women's Tennis

“We’re a young team with a lot of fight,” MSU Head Coach Denise Albrecht said. “After losing the doubles point, we dug down deep and rattled off four straight wins in singles for the match. It was a super effort.”

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State women's tennis went 2-1 on its Colorado road trip, which included a hard-fought 5-2 win over Northern Colorado in a key Big Sky Conference match. The Bobcats also avenged an earlier loss to Seattle, downing the Redhawks 4-3, before dropping a 5-2 decision at Air Force, over the weekend.

The Bobcats opened play on Friday afternoon with a 5-2 decision over Big Sky rival Northern Colorado. After dropping the openings doubles point, MSU rallied for four consecutive singles win, clinching the match at the top spot as sophomore Laura Middel took a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Lea Krajcovicova.

Playing at No. 4 singles, Bobcat freshman Angie Philippova tied the match at 1-1 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Hilary Walters-West. Wanda Holopainen and Jessica Brycki captured victories at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, to set up Middel's match clinching contest.

"We're a young team with a lot of fight," MSU Head Coach Denise Albrecht said. "After losing the doubles point, we dug down deep and rattled off four straight wins in singles for the match. It was a super effort."

Senior Liana Bates (Kalispell) closed out the scoring with a straight set 7-6, 6-4 decision over Marissa Baca at No. 6 singles.

Following an arduous day of travel that included wrapping up its match with UNC at 5 p.m., driving two-hours to Colorado Springs and then playing from 8 p.m. – midnight, MSU suffered a 5-2 setback to Air Force.

MSU's two points came at No. 1 singles, as Middel down Mary Meyers 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, and No. 5 singles, as sophomore newcomer Naomi Holopainen posted an 8-5 win over Carley Hatcliff.

"We overcame some tough situations to have a solid day of play," Albrecht said.

MSU finished its trip downing Seattle 4-3 on Saturday afternoon. The Redhawks had defeated the Bobcats 5-2 in the season-opener.

The Bobcats took the opening doubles point, then received wins from Brycki, Naomi Holopainen and Molly Crum at Nos. 2, 5 and 6, respectively.

Montana State 5, Northern Colorado 2. Singles: 1. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. Lea Krajcovicova 6-2, 3-6, 6-4; 2. HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) def. Chrissie Hoolahan 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; 3. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. Beth Coton 6-1, 6-4; 4. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. Hilary Walters-West 6-3, 6-1; 5. Courtney Schulte def. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi 6-4, 7-6; 6. BATES, Liana (MSU) def. Marissa Baca 7-6, 6-4. Doubles: 1. Coton/Schulte (UNCO) def. MIDDEL, Laura/BRYCKI, Jessica 6-3; 2. Hoolahan/Bennet (UNC) def. BATES, Liana/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) 7-5; 3. CRUM/PHILIPPOVA (MSU) def. Walters-West/Baca (UNCO) 6-2.

Air Force 5, Montana State 2. Singles: 1. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. MEYERS, Mary (AFA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; 2. FORLINI, Chloe (AFA) def. HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) 6-3, 6-2; 3. LANDRAM, Tracy (AFA) def. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2; 4. FORLINI, Lily (AFA) def. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) 7-6, 6-1; 5. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. HATCLIFF, Carley (AFA) 8-5; 6. RUDICO, Jocelle (AFA) def. CRUM, Molly (MSU) 8-1. Doubles: 1. LANDRAM, Tracy/STAPPER, Sierra (AFA) vs. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) unfinished; 2. FORLINI, Lily/MEYERS, Mary (AFA) def. BRYCKI, Jessica/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) 6-2; 3. FORLINI, Chloe/HATCLIFF, Carley (AFA) def. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina/CRUM, Molly (MSU) 6-2.

Montana State 4, Seattle 3. Singles: 1. WOODMAN, Kelli (SU) def. HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) 6-0, 6-1; 2. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. LUI, Michelle (SU) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6; 3. MALONEY, Madison (SU) def. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4; 4. CAREY, Barbara (SU) def. BATES, Liana (MSU) 6-3, 6-1; 5. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. JAMES, Kristen (SU) 6-3, 7-5; 6. CRUM, Molly (MSU) def. KWEE, Sari (SU) 6-1, 6-1. Doubles: 1. WOODMAN, Kelli/LUI, Michelle (SU) def. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) 6-1; 2. BRYCKI, Jessica/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. MALONEY, Madison/CAREY, Barbara (SU) 6-1; 3. BATES, Liana/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. JAMES, Kristen/KWEE, Sari (SU) 6-3.