Cats Head to Phoenix for Big Sky Tennis Championships

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Montana State women's tennis team is set to open play at the 2026 Big Sky Women's Tennis Championships on Thursday with a 9 a.m. MT matchup against Idaho State at the Phoenix Tennis Center in Arizona.

The Bobcats (8-10, 4-4) enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed, while the Bengals (12-7, 6-2) are the No. 3 seed. The MSU squad is coming off three straight conference wins to end the regular season, and looks to capitalize on that momentum in Arizona.

The Cats make their first appearance in the conference championships under head coach Hailey Barrett, who joined the program prior to the 2025-26 season.

"We are so happy to have qualified for the Big Sky Conference Championships," Barrett said. "It's a goal that we have been working towards all year."

Angel Bean and Nia Gelashvili return to the Bobcat lineup after helping the team to the first round win last season. This marks the third consecutive championship appearance for the Montana State team, and the first time in program history that the team has qualified three years in a row.

The two teams faced off in the first round of last year's tournament as well, resulting in a 4-0 win for the Bobcats. They also met once in the 2026 regular season, in a 6-1 tilt that fell in favor of Idaho State.

"We are ready for another battle against Idaho State," Barrett said. "They are a strong team with a deep lineup, and we are excited for another opportunity to meet the challenge. We have great momentum from a strong finish to the regular season.

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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Angel Bean

Nia Gelashvili

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Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis versus #3 Idaho State University on Apr. 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM MT