Bobcats Drop Two in Palouse to Open Tennis Season

Friday, January 15

Pullman, WA

11 a.m.

Montana State University

Washington State

Sophomore Angelina Philippova knocked off Idaho's Ana Batiri 6-1, 7-6 on Sunday morning in Pullman, Washington.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

1/17/2016 3:48:00 PM | Women's Tennis

The Montana State women’s tennis team opened its 2016 campaign dropping a pair of matches to PAC-12 power Washington State 7-0 and defending Big Sky Conference champion Idaho 5-2 over the weekend in Pullman, Washington.

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State women's tennis team opened its 2016 campaign dropping a pair of matches to PAC-12 power Washington State 7-0 and defending Big Sky Conference champion Idaho 5-2 over the weekend in Pullman, Washington.

The Bobcats had its best outing of the weekend against Idaho in the conference opener for both schools. The Vandals entered the match picked No. 2 in the preseason coach's poll.

Montana State jumped out early winning the first points with victories at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles. MSU's No. 2 tandem of Laura Middel and Naomi Holopainen clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory over Claire Yang and Rita Bermudez.

Idaho went ahead 2-1 with wins at Nos. 1 and 3 singles, before Bobcat sophomore Angelina Philippova tied the score at the No. 4 spot, defeating Ana Batiri 6-1, 7-6(2). The Vandals closed out the match winning at Nos. 2, 5 and 6 singles.

Montana State will travel to Texas Arlington on Feb. 5.

Results:

Idaho 5, Montana State 2 – Singles: 1) Marianna Petrei (UI) def. Laura Middel (MSU), 6-1, 6-1; 2) Maria Tavares (UI) def. Naomi Halopainen (MSU), 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; 3) Belen Barcenilla (UI) def. Jessica Brycki (MSU), 7-5, 6-2; 4) Angelina Phillippova (MSU) def. Ana Batiri (UI), 6-1, 7-6(2); 5) Lucia Badillos (UI) def. Shelby Cerkovnik (MSU), 6-2, 6-2; 6) Rita Bermudez (UI) def. Linda Vink (MSU), 6-1, 6-4. Doubles: 1) Jessica Brycki/Angelina Phillippova (MSU) def. Belen Barcenilla/Maria Tavares (UI), 6-1; 2) Laura Middel/Naomi Holopainen (MSU) def. Claire Yang/Rita Bermudez (UI), 6-4; 3) Ana Batiri/Lucia Badillos (UI) def. Molly Crum/ Linda Vink (MSU), 6-2.

Washington State 7, Montana State 0 – Singles: No. 1 No. 83 Donika Bashota (WSU) def. Laura Middel (MSU) 6-0, 6-1; No. 2 Trang Huynh (WSU) def. Naomi Holopainen(MSU) 6-1, 6-2 No. 3 Maria Biryukova(WSU) def. Jessica Brycki (MSU) 6-2, 6-2; No. 4 Barbora Michalkova (WSU) def. Angelina Philippova (MSU) 6-1, 7-6 (1); No. 5 Lize Leenknecht (WSU) def. Molly Crum (MSU) 6-0, 6-2; No. 6 Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Shelby Cerkovnik (MSU) 6-1, 7-6 (2). Doubles: No. 1 Bashota/Leenknecht (WSU) def. Brycki/Philippova (MSU) 6-3; No. 2 Biryukova/Huynh (WSU) vs. Middel/Holopainen (MSU) 4-5, DNF; No. 3 Miksovska/Michalkova (WSU) def. Crum/Vink (MSU) 6-1.