Bobcat Women Tree Bears

Saturday, April 9

BOZEMAN

9 a.m.

Montana State University

Northern Colorado

Naomi Holopainen (l) and Laura Middel celebrate a doubles point.

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

4/9/2016 1:23:00 PM | Women's Tennis

The Montana State women’s tennis team picked up a crucial 4-3 victory over Northern Colorado to remain in the hunt for one of six Big Sky Conference Tournament berths, Saturday morning at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State women's tennis team picked up a crucial 4-3 victory over Northern Colorado to remain in the hunt for one of six Big Sky Conference Tournament berths, Saturday morning at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.

The win moves the Bobcats into fifth in the Big Sky standings, a ½ game ahead of Eastern Washington.

"Looking into this weekend there were ten teams that still have a possibility of making it into the tournament," said MSU first-year coach Jon Reeves. "So it's huge that we got the win."

Montana State (7-13, 5-4) captured the opening doubles point. MSU's top tandem of Laura Middel and Naomi Holopainen dispatched Northern Colorado's (6-10, 2-6) Remi Immler and Beth Coton 6-2. The Bears evened doubles play at No. 3 with a 6-2 win to set-up a winner takes all match at the No. 2 spot.

Junior Jessica Brycki and sophomore Angelina Philippova trailed 4-3, before winning two straight games to take a 5-4 advantage. UNC tied the set at 5-5, before the Bobcats closed out the match with another pair of victories.

"It was very important to get the doubles point' Reeves said. "We've really been doing a good job at one and two, and we've had to mix a few things up at three. At the beginning of the year, our No. 2 team had been the top team, and then they went through an up-and-down period. They know they have it. I thought Jess did a nice job holding up Angie as she tried to get herself back on track. And, once she turned her mentality, they were right back on it."

In singles action, Northern Colorado quickly tied the match at 1-1 as Marissa Baca posted a win at the No. 4 spot, following an injury retirement by Brycki.

Montana State responded putting the pedal down as its top three players all won in straight sets to clinch the match. Naomi Holopainen started the onslaught with a 6-3, 6-2 decision at No. 2, followed by Middel's 6-2, 6-1 win over Lea Krajcovicova, and Philippova's 6-4, 6-0 sweep of Hilary Walters-West.

"Naomi just had to realize that she was playing a girl that brings it and really comes after you," Reeves said. "And, that's actually a perfect match-up for Naomi. She didn't have to make a ton of adjustments and could just go ahead and play her game."

Northern Colorado closed the match with victories at Nos. 5 and 6 singles.

Montana State will host perennial Big Sky power Sacramento State, Sunday morning at 10 a.m.

Montana State 4, Northern Colorado 3

Singles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) def. KRAJCOVICOVA, Lea (NC) 6-2, 6-1
2. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. COTON, Beth (NC) 6-3, 6-2
3. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. WALTERS-WEST, Hilary (NC) 6-4, 6-0
4. BACA, Marissa (NC) def. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) 6-1, retired
5. BATTERSBY, Anna (NC) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) 7-5, 6-1
6. KREUTZER, Lily-Ana (NC) def. HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles:
1. MIDDEL, Laura/HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) def. IMMLER, Remi/COTON, Beth (NC) 6-2
2. BRYCKI, Jessica/PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) def. WALTERS-WEST, Hilary/SCHULTE, Courtney (NC) 7-5
3. BACA, Marissa/BATTERSBY, Anna (NC) def. CERKOVNIK, Shelby/HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) 6-2

Match Notes:
Northern Colorado 6-10, 2-6 BSC
Montana State 7-13, 5-4 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,2,1,3,5,6)
T-2:30 A-100