Bobcats Fall Short in Upset Bid

Sunday, March 27

BOZEMAN

10 a.m.

Montana State University

Weber State

Freshman Marta Garcia-Reboredo

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

3/27/2022 3:43:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

The Montana State women’s tennis team held a 3-1 advantage over undefeated Weber State, before the Wildcats swept the final three singles matches for a 4-3 come-from-behind decision over the Bobcats on Sunday afternoon at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.

By: Tom Schulz

The Montana State women's tennis team held a 3-1 advantage over undefeated Weber State, before the Wildcats swept the final three singles matches for a 4-3 come-from-behind decision over the Bobcats on Sunday afternoon at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.

Montana State (5-13, 2-3) opened the match taking the crucial doubles point as its No. 1 tandem of Marta Garcia-Reboredo and Mirte Van Baelen claimed a 7-5 victory over Weber State's (11-6, 5-0) Ana Morett Salas and Pei-Hsuan Kuo. The Bobcats' No. 2 combination of Jazmin Lerman and Andrea Cuquerella set up the first point with a 6-4 win over Megan Davies and Sicely Ferreira.

"This match was a rollercoaster, and it wasn't easy," said MSU head coach Jon Reeves. "Our doubles has not been good overall, but this week we talked and worked on some basic fundamentals and expressed how urgent it is that those are actually taken care of on the court, and they did great.

"It wasn't perfect, but it was a heck of a lot better than what it's been," Reeves added. "Weber State ran three very solid doubles teams at us that are pretty good, so I'm just proud of how the kids responded to earn the point."

Weber State tied the match as the two squads opened singles action as Davies posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Van Baelen at the No. 2 slot. MSU's Garcia-Reboredo and Maria Villarejo answered with identical 6-3, 6-4 decisions at Nos. 1 and 4, respectively to give the Bobcats a 3-1 cushion and looking for one more win to clinch the match.

However, the Wildcats received a hard-fought 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 come-from-behind win by Kuo at No. 3 and held its momentum with straight set victories at Nos. 5 and 6 to take the match.

"Our conference is tight from top to bottom, and we know we're right there," Reeves said. "We are not going to blow anyone off the court, but we know we have six girls that are competing incredibly hard and trying their darndest to get it done.

"The biggest thing I'm proud of with this match, and all of our matches that have been extremely tight, is that they have been so cleanly played," Reeves added. "The level of play and coaching in the Big Sky this season has been outstanding. Of course, we wanted this match and it's a hard loss to swallow. We've been on the other end of two of these types of matches. It's a tough one, but I'm proud of the effort."

The Bobcats will host Northern Arizona on Friday, April 1 at 10 a.m. in the BATC.

Weber State 4, Montana State 3

Singles:
1. GARCIA-REBOREDO, M. (MSU-W) def. Ana Morett Salas (WSU-W) 6-3, 6-4
2. Megan Davies (WSU-W) def. VAN BAELEN, Mirte (MSU-W) 6-2, 6-2
3. Pei-Hsuan Kuo (WSU-W) def. LERMAN, Jazmin (MSU-W) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
4. VILLAREJO, Maria (MSU-W) def. Yuuna Ukita (WSU-W) 6-3, 6-4
5. Sicely Ferreira (WSU-W) def. CUQUERELLA, Andrea (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-4
6. Megan Lombardi (WSU-W) def. CHEN, JJ (MSU-W) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles:
1. GARCIA-REBOREDO, M./VAN BAELEN, Mirte (MSU-W) def. Ana Morett Salas/Pei-Hsuan Kuo (WSU-W) 7-5
2. LERMAN, Jazmin/CUQUERELLA, Andrea (MSU-W) def. Megan Davies/Sicely Ferreira (WSU-W) 6-4
3. Megan Lombardi/Yuuna Ukita (WSU-W) def. VILLAREJO, Maria/CHEN, JJ (MSU-W) 6-4