Bobcats Split Matches in Missoula

Saturday, February 27

Missoula, MT

9 a.m.

Montana State University

Montana

Montana State junior Jessica Brycki

Photo by: Todd Goodrich

2/27/2016 7:35:00 PM | Women's Tennis

The Montana State women’s tennis team played a pair of matches, dropping a 4-3 decision to Montana, before turning around and defeating Lewis-Clark State 7-0, Saturday afternoon.

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State women's tennis team played a pair of matches, dropping a 4-3 decision to Montana, before turning around and defeating Lewis-Clark State 7-0, Saturday afternoon.

Against the Grizzlies, MSU stormed out to an early 1-0 advantage sweeping all three doubles matches. The Bobcats claimed the doubles point as the No. 3 tandem of Linda Vink and Shelby Cerkovnik downed Lidia Dukic and Stanzi Stuijt 6-3.

"We came out in doubles fired up and ready to go," said first-year head coach Jon Reeves. "All three doubles teams played great sets. We are on track with our doubles and setting ourselves up to play a complete match."

UM evened the match with a win at No. 1 singles and took a 2-1 lead as Dukic defeated Jessica Brycki at the No. 3 spot 6-4, 6-2. The Bobcats fought back with wins at Nos. 2 and 4 singles as Laura Middel and Angelina Philippova each posted three-set victories to give MSU a 3-2 advantage. However, Montana captured Nos. 5 and 6 singles for the 4-3 victory.

"In singles, we are still mentally holding ourselves back," Reeves said. "The entire team needs to believe in themselves to win matches like this. The match was there for us to win. Overall, Montana did a more complete job competing. They were in a hole and they fought their way out of it and walked away with the victory."

"We have made some huge improvements. That showed all day. Especially, against Lewis-Clark State. The team stepped on the court 10-minutes after a deflating loss and took care of business."

Against Lewis-Clark State, Montana State again swept all three doubles matches, before sweeping all six singles matches in straight sets.

"The team now has expectations that they can do well. We all just have to keep after it with the work and putting ourselves in the position to pull out these wins. The girls are right there. They simply have to take that next step."

Montana State will play at Grand Canyon University on March 4.

Montana State 7, Lewis-Clark State 0

Singles:
1. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. LANG, Lauren (LCS) 6-2, 6-1
2. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. UHLENKOTT, Hannah (LCS) 6-0, 6-1
3. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. HUMAN, Deanri (LCS) 6-1, 6-3
4. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. RODRIGUEZ, Anna (LCS) 6-0, 6-2
5. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) def. ROUX, Jen (LCS) 6-1, 6-2
6. CRUM, Molly (MSU) def. ARTHUR, Kianna (LCS) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles:
1. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi/MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. LANG, Lauren/HUMAN, Deanri (LCS) 6-1
2. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. UHLENKOTT, Hannah/ARTHUR, Kianna (LCS) 6-0
3. CERKOVNIK, Shelby/CRUM, Molly (MSU) def. RODRIGUEZ, Anna/ROUX, Jen (LCS) 6-0

Montana 4, Montana State 3

Singles:
1. DRIVER, Haley (UM) def. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) 6-4, 6-3
2. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. DEAN, Francis (UM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
3. DUKIC, Lidia (UM) def. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
4. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. SULZ, Hannah (UM) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
5. KINCAID, Cam (UM) def. VINK, Linda (MSU) 6-2, 6-3
6. ORFANOS, Catherine (UM) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1

Doubles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. DRIVER, Haley/DEAN, Francis (UM) 6-2
2. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. SULZ, Hannah/KINCAID, Cam (UM) 6-1
3. VINK, Linda/CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) def. DUKIC, Lidia/STUIJT, Stanzi (UM) 6-3