Friday, January 31
BOZEMAN
10 a.m.
Montana State University
7
vs
0
Utah State
Bobcat newcomer Nia Gelashvili clinched MSU's 7-0 win over Utah State with a 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles.
Photo by: Brian Morse
Bobcats Dominate Home Opener
1/31/2025 3:56:00 PM | Women's Tennis
“I don’t think she has any idea that she clinched the match for us,” Woodburn smiled.
A little bit of the old, and a little bit of the new came together for Montana State head coach Suzie Woodburn on Friday morning as MSU opened its home slate in dominating fashion, defeating Utah State 7-0 in the Bobcat-Anerson Tennis Center.
Montana State (2-3) captured the opening doubles point with victories at Nos. 1 and 3. MSU's top duo of newcomer Jojo Bach and Bozeman product Meg McCarty cruised to a 6-2 decision over Olivia Halvorsen and Maria Ramos Garcia. Andrea Cuquerella and Kavya Khirwar followed, clinching the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Ana Sabikova and Natalie Paterova.
Utah State's (1-1) lone win of the contest came at No. 2 doubles as Indya Nespor and Cielo Tapia-Criz held on for a 6-4 victory over Marta Garcia-Reboredo and Hudson Hawkins.
"It was awesome to get the doubles point because we have been putting in the work," Woodburn said. "And it is definitely paying off. Andrea and Kavya pulled out a good win. They dominated and really worked on their style of doubles. Jo and Meg played electric doubles and getting the point was good momentum heading into singles play."
Bobcat sophomore Angel Bean, playing in her first match of the season at No. 4, put MSU up 2-0 winning in quick fashion 6-1, 6-2 over Halvorsen. McCarty gave MSU another point at No. 2 cruising to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Sabikova, before Nia Gelashvili, playing in her first match as a Bobcat at No. 3, clinched the contest bouncing back from a 6-0 second set defeat to post a 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 victory over Ramos Garcia.
"Angel has been itching to get going," Woodburn said. "And hopefully she will be playing doubles soon, too. For her to get that first singles match is just fun to see. She took care of business.
"Meg put us up 3-0 using a variety of shots and a lot of wisdom," Woodburn added. "And then Nia comes in after having just a week's practice since getting here from Tbilisi, Georgia, learning how to shout, 'Go Cats!' - she really embraced the moment, competed, and found a way.
"I don't think she has any idea that she clinched the match for us," Woodburn smiled.
Garcia-Reboredo, a senior all-conference standout who has been MSU's top singles player over the past three seasons, rallied from a 6-3 opening set loss to notch a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Nespor.
"I knew Marta was going to get the win after the first set," Woodburn said. "She really started focusing on trusting her tennis and stepping up in the right moments. She just kept getting better and better as the match progressed."
The biggest comeback of the day came from Hawkins at No. 5 singles. After getting down 5-1 in the opening set, the sophomore from Las Vegas, rattled off six consecutive games to capture a 7-5, 6-1 win over Niyati Kukreti.
Cuquerella closed out the match with a 7-5, 6-4 decision over Paterova.
"I felt our effort showed what our team is capable of with almost a full line up," Woodburn said. "It was great to be at home, and we were who we want to be on the court. I am proud of the result (today) and we're looking forward to Sunday's match."
Montana State hosts South Dakota on Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.
Montana State 7, Utah State 0
Singles:
Montana State (2-3) captured the opening doubles point with victories at Nos. 1 and 3. MSU's top duo of newcomer Jojo Bach and Bozeman product Meg McCarty cruised to a 6-2 decision over Olivia Halvorsen and Maria Ramos Garcia. Andrea Cuquerella and Kavya Khirwar followed, clinching the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Ana Sabikova and Natalie Paterova.
Utah State's (1-1) lone win of the contest came at No. 2 doubles as Indya Nespor and Cielo Tapia-Criz held on for a 6-4 victory over Marta Garcia-Reboredo and Hudson Hawkins.
"It was awesome to get the doubles point because we have been putting in the work," Woodburn said. "And it is definitely paying off. Andrea and Kavya pulled out a good win. They dominated and really worked on their style of doubles. Jo and Meg played electric doubles and getting the point was good momentum heading into singles play."
Bobcat sophomore Angel Bean, playing in her first match of the season at No. 4, put MSU up 2-0 winning in quick fashion 6-1, 6-2 over Halvorsen. McCarty gave MSU another point at No. 2 cruising to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Sabikova, before Nia Gelashvili, playing in her first match as a Bobcat at No. 3, clinched the contest bouncing back from a 6-0 second set defeat to post a 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 victory over Ramos Garcia.
"Angel has been itching to get going," Woodburn said. "And hopefully she will be playing doubles soon, too. For her to get that first singles match is just fun to see. She took care of business.
"Meg put us up 3-0 using a variety of shots and a lot of wisdom," Woodburn added. "And then Nia comes in after having just a week's practice since getting here from Tbilisi, Georgia, learning how to shout, 'Go Cats!' - she really embraced the moment, competed, and found a way.
"I don't think she has any idea that she clinched the match for us," Woodburn smiled.
Garcia-Reboredo, a senior all-conference standout who has been MSU's top singles player over the past three seasons, rallied from a 6-3 opening set loss to notch a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Nespor.
"I knew Marta was going to get the win after the first set," Woodburn said. "She really started focusing on trusting her tennis and stepping up in the right moments. She just kept getting better and better as the match progressed."
The biggest comeback of the day came from Hawkins at No. 5 singles. After getting down 5-1 in the opening set, the sophomore from Las Vegas, rattled off six consecutive games to capture a 7-5, 6-1 win over Niyati Kukreti.
Cuquerella closed out the match with a 7-5, 6-4 decision over Paterova.
"I felt our effort showed what our team is capable of with almost a full line up," Woodburn said. "It was great to be at home, and we were who we want to be on the court. I am proud of the result (today) and we're looking forward to Sunday's match."
Montana State hosts South Dakota on Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.
Montana State 7, Utah State 0
Singles:
- Marta Garcia-Reboredo (MSU) d. Indya Nespor, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
- Meg McCarty (MSU) d. Ana Sabikova, 6-3, 6-2
- Nia Gelashvili (MSU) d. Maria Ramos Garcia, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
- Angel Bean (MSU) d. Olivia Halvorsen, 6-1, 6-2
- Hudson Hawkins (MSU) d. Niyati Kukreti, 7-5, 6-1
- Andrea Cuquerella (MSU) d. Natalie Paterova, 7-5, 6-4
- Jojo Bach/McCarty (MSU) d. Halvorsen/Ramos Garcia, 6-2
- Nespor/Cielo Tapia-Cruz (USU) d. Garcia-Reboredo/Hawkins, 6-4
- Kavya Khirwar/Cuquerella (MSU) d. Paterova/Sabikova, 6-2
Players Mentioned
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