Friday, March 8
BOZEMAN
10 a.m.
Montana State University
4
vs
3
New Mexico
Andrea Cuquerella posted a 7-5, 6-4 victory over New Mexico's Bente Vandeputte to clinch a 4-3 win for the Bobcats.
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Signature Win: Bobcats Knock off Undefeated New Mexico
3/8/2024 3:32:00 PM | Women's Tennis
“We knew it was going to take the entire team to get the W,” Woodburn said. “We had full confidence and talked about being positive, and no matter what, just have good attitudes. Our team energy was incredible and good things happened.”
Second-year head coach Suzie Woodburn got the signature win she was looking for as Montana State defeated previously unbeaten New Mexico 4-3 on Friday afternoon in the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.
Two weeks ago, New Mexico (10-1) ranked No. 75 in the ITA poll but had slipped out despite posting three victories last week. UNM and Oklahoma State were the only undefeated teams ranked in the top 75.
Until Friday afternoon.
"We knew it was going to take the entire team to get the W," Woodburn said. "We had full confidence and talked about being positive, and no matter what, just have good attitudes. Our team energy was incredible and good things happened."
Montana State (7-4) mixed up its lineup for the Lobos and it paid dividends despite dropping the opening doubles point.
MSU kept its top duo of Marta Garcia-Reboredo and Hudson Hawkins together but went with Andrea Cuquerella and Paula Dougherty at No. 2, and the freshmen tandem of Meg McCarty and Angel Bean at No. 3. Cuquerella and Dougherty dropped a 6-2 decision to Hsuan Huang and Maria Sodre, and the Lobos captured the point at the top spot with a 6-4 win.
"Our team is deep and we're going to keep on mixing up lineups to see what's best," Woodburn said. "But it's awesome to know we can put anyone out there and compete at every spot."
MSU quickly snatched the momentum, opening singles play with first set wins at Nos. 1-4. Senior Felicia Jayasaputra evened the match at one-all with a 6-3, 6-2 victory of Leonie Hoppe at No. 4, and was followed by Garcia-Reboredo's 6-2, 7-5 win over Sarah O'Connor at No. 1 and Bean's hard fought 6-4, 7-5 decision over Maud Vandeputte to give the Bobcats a 3-1 advantage.
"It was huge to get out to a good start," Wood burn commented. "We've been working on playing our deuce points smart and trusting our tennis. It was great for us to get that first set and then find ways to close out those tough second sets when things went different."
New Mexico pulled to within 3-2 as Katherine Jhang came back from one set down to notch a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 over Dougherty.
Cuquerella, a junior from Valencia, Spain jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the opening set against Bente Vandeputte at No. 5 and held on for a 7-5 first set win. The second set was also back-and-forth as Vandeputte held a 3-2 lead, before Cuquerella answered with three consecutive games to stake a 5-3 lead.
Leading 5-4, Cuquerella captured the next game to clinch the match setting off a Bobcat celebration which included her parents, who were watching their daughter play for the first time on the collegiate level.
"It was amazing having Andrea's parents here from Spain and for them to see her get a chance to clinch," Woodburn stated. "It was something they have always talked about, coming to watch her play one time in Bozeman. Today was the day, and I am sure they're so proud of her."
Sodre posted a 3-6, 6-2, 10-5 win over Hawkins at No. 6 to close out the scoring.
Montana State 4, New Mexico 3
Singles:
Doubles:
Two weeks ago, New Mexico (10-1) ranked No. 75 in the ITA poll but had slipped out despite posting three victories last week. UNM and Oklahoma State were the only undefeated teams ranked in the top 75.
Until Friday afternoon.
"We knew it was going to take the entire team to get the W," Woodburn said. "We had full confidence and talked about being positive, and no matter what, just have good attitudes. Our team energy was incredible and good things happened."
Montana State (7-4) mixed up its lineup for the Lobos and it paid dividends despite dropping the opening doubles point.
MSU kept its top duo of Marta Garcia-Reboredo and Hudson Hawkins together but went with Andrea Cuquerella and Paula Dougherty at No. 2, and the freshmen tandem of Meg McCarty and Angel Bean at No. 3. Cuquerella and Dougherty dropped a 6-2 decision to Hsuan Huang and Maria Sodre, and the Lobos captured the point at the top spot with a 6-4 win.
"Our team is deep and we're going to keep on mixing up lineups to see what's best," Woodburn said. "But it's awesome to know we can put anyone out there and compete at every spot."
MSU quickly snatched the momentum, opening singles play with first set wins at Nos. 1-4. Senior Felicia Jayasaputra evened the match at one-all with a 6-3, 6-2 victory of Leonie Hoppe at No. 4, and was followed by Garcia-Reboredo's 6-2, 7-5 win over Sarah O'Connor at No. 1 and Bean's hard fought 6-4, 7-5 decision over Maud Vandeputte to give the Bobcats a 3-1 advantage.
"It was huge to get out to a good start," Wood burn commented. "We've been working on playing our deuce points smart and trusting our tennis. It was great for us to get that first set and then find ways to close out those tough second sets when things went different."
New Mexico pulled to within 3-2 as Katherine Jhang came back from one set down to notch a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 over Dougherty.
Cuquerella, a junior from Valencia, Spain jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the opening set against Bente Vandeputte at No. 5 and held on for a 7-5 first set win. The second set was also back-and-forth as Vandeputte held a 3-2 lead, before Cuquerella answered with three consecutive games to stake a 5-3 lead.
Leading 5-4, Cuquerella captured the next game to clinch the match setting off a Bobcat celebration which included her parents, who were watching their daughter play for the first time on the collegiate level.
"It was amazing having Andrea's parents here from Spain and for them to see her get a chance to clinch," Woodburn stated. "It was something they have always talked about, coming to watch her play one time in Bozeman. Today was the day, and I am sure they're so proud of her."
Sodre posted a 3-6, 6-2, 10-5 win over Hawkins at No. 6 to close out the scoring.
Montana State 4, New Mexico 3
Singles:
- Marta Garcia-Reboredo (MSU) d. Sarah O'Connor, 6-2, 7-5
- Katherine Jhang (NM) d. Paula Dougherty, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
- Angel Bean (MSU) d. Maud Vandeputte, 6-4, 7-5
- Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) d. Leonie Hoppe, 6-3, 6-2
- Andrea Cuquerella (MSU) d. Bente Vandeputte, 7-5, 6-4
- Maria Sodre (NM) d. Hudson Hawkins, 3-6, 6-2, 10-5
Doubles:
- Hoppe/Jhang (NM) d. Garcia-Reboredo, 6-2
- Hsuan Huang/Sodre (NM) d. Cuquerella/Dougherty, 6-2
- O'Connor/Maud Vandeputte (NM) vs. Bean/Meg McCarty. 5-4, unfinished
Players Mentioned
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