Bobcat Netters Split Matches at Northern Arizona

Saturday, March 5

Flagstaff, AZ

10 a.m.

Montana State University

Northern Arizona

Junior Laura Middel

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

3/5/2016 9:07:00 PM | Women's Tennis

The Montana State women’s tennis team split a pair of matches on Saturday dropping a Big Sky Conference contest to Northern Arizona 5-2, before rebounding with a 5-2 victory over Emory University.

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State women's tennis team split a pair of matches on Saturday dropping a Big Sky Conference contest to Northern Arizona 5-2, before rebounding with a 5-2 victory over Emory University.

In its match against the Lumberjacks, Montana State captured the opening point winning at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles. The Bobcat tandem of Jessica Brycki and Angelina Philippova secured the win with a 6-3 victory over NAU's Blanka Szavay and Eirene Granville 6-3 at the No. 2 spot.

NAU stormed back winning Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 singles to put the match away. MSU's lone point in singles action came at the No. 2 spot where junior Laura Middel posted a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Marta Lewandowska.

"We got off to a great start in doubles," said MSU head coach Jon Reeves. "We have been putting together some solid efforts overall. NAU's singles took over from the start and won all six first sets. We had a few players fight their way back and give themselves a chance."

Against Emory, the Bobcats swept all three doubles matches and then claimed victories at Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 6 singles for the win. Junior Naomi Holopainen secured the match for MSU at No. 2 singles where she notched a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Emory's Beatrice Rosen.

"We had a quick turnaround with Emory," Reeves said. "Emory is a team that won the 2014 NCAA Division III national title. We came out a bit slow in singles and doubles. Emory made us work for every point. They are smart and they compete hard.

"Overall, we did a very solid job of closing out the match," Reeves said. "I was proud of the girls for their efforts."

MSU will play Cal State Fullerton on March 12 in Reno, Nevada.

Montana State 5, Emory University 2

Singles:
1. Taylor Cosme (EUW) def. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
2. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. Beatrice Rosen (EUW) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
3. Katarina Su (EUW) def. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. D. Moreno-Kaste (EUW) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
5. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) def. Paula Castro (EUW) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
6. CRUM, Molly (MSU) def. Melissa Goodman (EUW) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles
1. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. Michelle Satterfield/Anna Fuhr (EUW) 7-6 (7-5)
2. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. Paula Castro/D. Moreno-Kaste (EUW) 6-2
3. VINK, Linda/CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) def. Taylor Cosme/Stephanie Loutsenko (EUW) 7-5

Northern Arizona 5, Montana State 2

Singles:
1. SZAVAY, Blanka (NAU) def. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) 6-0, 6-1
2. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. LEWANDOWSKA, Marta (NAU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. ROCHIN, Hailey (NAU) def. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. DENESIK, Jordan (NAU) def. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
5. GRANVILLE, Eirene (NAU) def. VINK, Linda (MSU) 6-3, 3-6, 10-4
6. BROWN, Sara (NAU) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1

Doubles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. BOX, Emelia/ROCHIN, Hailey (NAU) 6-2
2. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. SZAVAY, Blanka/GRANVILLE, Eirene (NAU) 6-3
3. LEWANDOWSKA, Marta/DENESIK, Jordan (NAU) vs. VINK, Linda/CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 5-3, unfinished