Montana State University
Marquette
Bobcats Cruise to Season-Opening Victory Over Marquette, 6-1
1/17/2026 12:56:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Montana State wins five singles matches in straight sets on Saturday
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Montana State women's tennis team earned a decisive 6-1 victory over Marquette to open the 2026 dual match season on Saturday at Choice Health & Fitness in Grand Forks, N.D.
The Bobcats move to 1-0 on the young season and will face North Dakota to wrap up the weekend on Sunday. With the win, the Cats have now won their season-opening match in four-straight seasons.
I'm so proud of this team, head coach Hailey Barrett said. We started the match well by playing aggressively and winning the doubles point. We kept that momentum going into singles and played tough the whole way. I'm so happy for Anna and Terezie for earning their first dual match singles and doubles wins as Bobcats, and Lola who earned her first dual match doubles win. Tomorrow will be another tough battle, and we'll be ready.
Montana State opened the day by picking up the doubles point to take an early lead over the Golden Eagles. Anna Wise and Terezie Stverakova earned a 6-1 victory over Elise Barnstedt and Emma Davis on court one, and Kavya Khirwar and Lola Bean matched their tally with a 6-1 court-three win over Maria Poon and Luciana Mendoza to clinch the point for the Cats.
The Bobcats continued their hot streak into singles play, picking up five straight-set victories to secure the match win over the Golden Eagles. Stverakova cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Aiyana Abbott at No. 5, and Nia Gelashvili followed shortly after with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Barnstedt at No. 1. Anna Wise earned the clincher for Montana State from court 2, defeating Davis, 6-3, 6-2 to put the Bobcats up, 4-0.
Montana State also earned wins on courts No. 4 and 3 to close out the day as Khirwar defeated Mendoza, 6-0, 6-4, and Angel Bean earned a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Poon.
The Bobcats return to Choice Health & Fitness to compete against North Dakota on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. MT. The match will be live streamed here, and live stats will be available via the Montana State women's tennis schedule page on msubobcats.com.
Montana State (1-0) def. Marquette (0-2) 6-1
Doubles:
1. Anna Wise/Terezie Stverakova (MSU) def. Elise Barnstedt/Emma Davis (MU) 6-1
2. Nia Gelashvili/Angel Bean (MSU) vs. Aiyana Abbott/Elena Duva (MU) 2-4, unfinished
3. Kavya Khirwar/Lola Bean (MSU) def. Maria Poon/Luciana Mendoza (MU) 6-1
Singles:
1. Nia Gelashvili (MSU) def. Elise Barnstedt (MU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Anna Wise (MSU) def. Emma Davis (MU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Angel Bean (MSU) def. Maria Poon (MU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Kavya Khirwar (MSU) def. Luciana Mendoza (MU) 6-0, 6-4
5. Terezie Stverakova (MSU) def. Aiyana Abbott (MU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Elena Duva (MU) def. Lola Bean (MSU) 6-1, 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,1,2,4,6,3)
Follow the Bobcats
For the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Montana State women's tennis team, follow the Bobcats on Instagram at @MSUWomensTennis. Information on the Montana State athletic program can be found online at msubobcats.com or by following the Bobcats on Twitter at @MSUBobcats, Instagram at @MontanaStateBobcats, and on Facebook at Montana State Bobcats.
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