Bobcats Capture Two Big Sky Road Wins

Thursday, March 24

Cedar City, UT

10 a.m.

Montana State University

Southern Utah

Sophomore Angie Philippova went 4-0 in singles play last weekend.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

3/28/2016 12:14:00 PM | Women's Tennis

The Montana State women’s tennis team returned from its four-match Utah-Idaho road trip with a pair of Big Sky Conference victories, including a hard-fought 4-3 decision over Idaho State on Sunday afternoon.

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State women's tennis team returned from its four-match Utah-Idaho road trip with a pair of Big Sky Conference victories, including a hard-fought 4-3 decision over Idaho State on Sunday afternoon.

The Bobcats dropped the opening doubles point to the Bengals, before taking four straight singles matches to secure the victory. Junior Naomi Holopainen opened singles play with a 6-4, 6-4 decision over ISU's Svenja Tegtmeier at the No. 2 spot to ignite the MSU rally.

Jessica Brycki fought off Nonie Alexandersen 6-1, 0-6, 6-2 at No. 4, and a Laura Middel 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win at the top spot gave MSU a 3-1 advantage. Sophomore Angelina Philippova clinched the match for the Bobcats with a 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 over Wiebke Boeckmann.

"Defeating Idaho State was huge for the team," said MSU first-year head coach Jon Reeves. "The girls experienced exactly what Mary Jayne and I have been expecting from them as a complete team. They were prepared to compete. They fought for every point. They were positive and energetic. They cheered for their teammates like crazy and it was a very large step and commitment made.

"This is about more than the win, which is always the goal and important," Reeves added. "This match was about taking care of yourself, but also about having your teammate's backs and supporting those who are surrounding you."

Montana State opened its road swing with a 5-2 win over Southern Utah on Thursday.

The Bobcats swept all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 advantage. MSU's No. 3 tandem of Linda Vink and Wanda Holopainen set the tone for the Bobcats with a 6-2 win. It was Wanda Holopainen's first appearance of the season, after sitting out the previous 14 matches due to injury.

Philippova pushed MSU's lead to 2-0 as she shutout SUU's Laura Martin Lozano 6-0, 6-0. The two Big Sky foes swapped victories at Nos. 1, 3 and 6 singles, before Vink, a freshman, secured the match with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 decision over Emily Lemmon.

"I was very proud of the effort from the whole team against Southern Utah," Reeves said. "They played with a lot of enthusiasm and support for each other."

MSU's lone conference loss came on Friday at Weber State as the Wildcats rallied from a 2-1 deficit to earn a 4-3 victory.

The Bobcats received a big win from its No. 2 doubles duo as Brycki and Philippova notched a 6-2 victory to give MSU the opening point. WSU evened the match at No. 3 singles, before Philippova put the Bobcats up 2-1 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 4 singles.

Weber State responded with wins at Nos. 1, 5 and 6 singles to clinch the match. Middel came from behind to record a 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles over Kristi Elmer to close the final outcome to 4-3.

"The girls put up a good fight against Weber State," Reeves said. "It was a tough loss for the team. I thought it was a good competitive effort across the board. We are getting better at giving ourselves an opportunity to win every match. Weber did a slightly better job at key moments to pull out the match."

On Saturday, Utah State handed Montana State a 6-1 non-conference setback. MSU's only point came from Philippova at No. 3 singles, where the native of Astrakhan, Russia posted a 3-6, 6-1, 10-7 win over the Aggies Maggie O'Meara.

Montana State will host perennial regional power Boise State on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.

Montana State 4, Idaho State 3

Singles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. Kasey Bacon (ISU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
2. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. Svenja Tegtmeier (ISU) 6-4, 6-4
3. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. Wiebke Boeckmann (ISU) 7-6, 4-6, 6-4
4. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. Nonie Alexandersen (ISU) 6-1, 0-6, 6-4
5. Laura Theus (ISU) def. VINK, Linda (MSU) 6-1, 6-0
6. Taylor Cole (ISU) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 4-6, 6-1, 10-8

Doubles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. Wiebke Boeckmann/Nonie Alexandersen (ISU) 6-0
2. Laura Theus/Svenja Tegtmeier (ISU) def. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) 6-4
3. Taylor Cole/Laura Gutierrez (ISU) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby/HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) 6-4

Utah State 6, Montana State 1

Singles:
1. Nini Guensler (USU) def. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) 6-3, 3-6, 10-7
2. Ekaterina Tugarinova (USU) def. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) 6-1, 6-4
3. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. Maggie O'Meara (USU) 3-6, 6-1, 10-7
4. Sabrina Demerath (USU) def. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) 6-0, 6-4
5. Monika Van De Vondel (USU) def. VINK, Linda (MSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Meghan Lyall (USU) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. Ekaterina Tugarinova/Sabrina Demerath (USU) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Monika Van De Vondel/Maggie O'Meara (USU) def. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) 6-2
3. Nini Guensler/Lexi Turley (USU) def. VINK, Linda/Wanda Holopainen (MSU) 7-5

Weber State 4, Montana State 3

Singles:
1. BACHANEK, Agata (WSU) def. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. ELMER, Kristi (WSU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
3. PARKER, Sara (WSU) def. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
4. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. BEAUVAIS, Dominique (WSU) 6-1, 6-3
5. HASAN, Devi (WSU) def. VINK, Linda (MSU) 6-3, 7-5
6. DICKASON, Morgan (WSU) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. PARKER, Sara/ELMER, Kristi (WSU) 6-2
2. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. DICKASON, Morgan/BEAUVAIS, Dominique (WSU) 6-2
3. BACHANEK, Agata/HASAN, Devi (WSU) def. VINK, Linda/CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 6-3

Montana State 5, Southern Utah 2

Singles:
1. Veronilka Rogova (SUU) def. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) 6-3, 6-0
2. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. Evgenia Marushko (SUU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. Teresa Schmidt (SUU) 6-0, 6-3
4. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. Laura Martin Lozano (SUU) 6-0, 6-0
5. VINK, Linda (MSU) def. Emily Lemmon (SUU) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
6. Charity Sagiao (SUU) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. Veronilka Rogova/Laura Martin Lozano (SUU) 6-3
2. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. Evgenia Marushko/Teresa Schmidt (SUU) 6-3
3. VINK, Linda/Wanda Holopainen (MSU) def. Charity Sagiao/Megan Bell (SUU) 6-2