The Montana State women’s tennis team swept its two-match road swing, defeating Gonzaga 4-3 and Eastern Washington 5-2 over the weekend.
The Bobcats opened play with a hard-fought win over the Bulldogs in Spokane. Gonzaga won the first point of the match winning two-of-three doubles matches. However, the Bobcats responded as Stephanie Jasper, Missy Harris, Ali Griffin and McKenzie Hilmer all posted singles victories to give MSU a one-point advantage.
“We got off to a slow start with doubles,” said MSU women’s coach Denise Albrecht. “But, we didn’t let it get us down. The strength of our team right now is in the top of the ladder. The girls just dug down and competed hard.”
On Saturday, the Bobcats won their second Big Sky Conference match with a win over Eastern Washington.
MSU opened the match winning at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles to earn the first point. The Bobcats then swept the first four singles matches to put the contest out of reach.
Scoring singles victories were Jasper, Harris, Laura Villegas and Griffin.
“We had a late match on Friday and turned around with another great performance on Saturday morning,” Albrecht said. “It was impressive to watch us sweep the top four spots in singles.
“This was an important weekend for us, and to come away with two road wins is a super achievement.”
MSU will travel to UC-Davis and Sacramento State next weekend.
Montana State 5, Eastern Washington 2
Singles: 1. JASPER, Stephanie (MSU) def. DEMERATH, Marie 6-4, 6-1; 2. HARRIS, Missy (MSU) def. MANKOVITS, Amanda 6-4, 6-3; 3. VILLEGAS, Laura (MSU) def. BERGER, Rachel 6-2, 6-3; 4. GRIFFIN, Ali (MSU) def. KING, Kasie 6-1, 6-1; 5. BAMPTON, Caitlin (EWU) def. HILMER, McKenzie 6-2, 6-3; 6. LIENING, Judy (EWU) def. DE LA TORRE, Andrea (MSU) 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (12-10). Doubles: 1. HARRIS, Missy/GRIFFIN, Ali (MSU) def. DEMERATH, Marie/MANKOVITS, Amanda 8-1; 2. HILMER, McKenzie/JASPER, Stephanie (MSU) def. BERGER, Rachel/LIENING, Judy 8-2; 3. KING, Kasie/BAMPTON, Caitlin (EWU) def. VILLEGAS, Laura/DE LA TORRE, Andrea 8-6.
Montana State 4, Gonzaga 3
Singles: 1. Stephanie Jasper (MSU)) def. Aglaya Kokurina 6-1, 3-0, retired; 2. Kristina Zauere (GON) def. Laura Villegas 7-5, 6-2; 3. Missy Harris (MSU) def. Clare Dodge 6-2, 6-3; 4. Ali Griffin (MSU) def. Danielle Farmer 6-3, 6-3; 5. McKenzie Hilmer (MSU) def. Madeline Parker 6-2, 6-2; 6. Madeline Edson-White (GON) def. Lisa Clark 7-6, 6-1. Doubles: 1. Aglaya Kokurina/Kristina Zauere (GON) def. Missy Harris/Ali Griffin 8-0; 2. McKenzie Hilmer/Stephanie Jasper (MSU) def. Clare Dodge/Danielle Farmer (GON) 8-1; 3. Madeline Parker/Madeline Edson-White (GON) def. Laura Villegas/Andrea De La Torre 8-5.
