Tennis looks for wins this weekend
4/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The University of Montana tennis teams will try to get back on the right foot this weekend as they square off in some crucial matches.
The men's team will face conference rivals Sacramento State on Saturday.
The Griz enter the Saturday match-up with a 6-9 record that includes a 1-4 record against Big Sky Conference opponents, leaving them tied for 5th place with Weber State in the conference. UM is coming off a decent weekend during which it lost a 4-3 decision to Idaho State and bested the Wildcats 5-2.
"We lost 4-3 and that's the 2nd straight conference game we've lost 4-3 (UM lost 4-3 to Northern Arizona on April 3) and I think it's about time we won one like that," said UM junior Jan Steenekamp. "Hopefully everybody is motivated and ready to play."
Montana has had constant trouble this season winning doubles matches and stressed that area during practice this week.
"We are (confident in our doubles teams)," sophomore Varun Giri said. "The last few matches we have gotten pretty close. We've been losing those crucial points so that's what we've been practicing the last few days."
The Hornets are 10-8 on the season and hold a 2-1 record in Big Sky Conference play. They are also coming off a dominating 6-1 victory over Eastern Washington last week. Sacramento State is led by strong play from its lower-end players, such as junior Peter Farkas and freshmen Warwick Foy and Roman Perez. Warwick and Perez have compiled a 28-22 record playing in the No. 4 through No. 6 singles positions. The Hornets have also had some trouble finding consistency at the No. 1 position, but junior Matt Jones seems to have temporarily completed the job, compiling a 3-2 record at the spot.
UM will once again be without the services of Stan Nevolovich, who is still nursing a knee injury. UM head coach Brian Hanford hopes the junior will return in time to compete in the conference tournament at the end of the month.
The UM women's team faces perhaps a more strenuous battle this weekend than the men's team. The 1-11 Lady Griz will open up competition against Gonzaga at 2 p.m. today. After the Gonzaga match-up, UM will take on the tough Lady Hornets of Sacramento State.
Sacramento State is currently ranked 28th nationally in the International Tennis Association and boasts a 17-3 record. The Hornets are riding a 12-match winning streak, which includes a 6-1 thrashing over 10th-ranked Fresno State last week. Also, they have not lost since their Feb. 12 game against the University of Washington.
Sacramento State has been led by very strong individual play. The worst individual record on their roster is that of Marta Gronowicz, who comes to Missoula with a 9-9 record. The Lady Hornets are led by their No. 1 and 2 players Margarita Karnaukhova (who is currently ranked 78th in the nation and the current conference player of the week) and Anna Erickson. They have a combined 32-4 record so far this season.
Despite the fact that they will be playing a team as hot as Sacramento State, the Lady Griz are ready to roll and are not feeling the least bit intimidated.
"It's definitely not intimidating to us as a team," said UM junior Bonny Bower. "We want to win a match and we are going to do everything we can to get that done. We're as good as every team out there so we are going to do our best to win."
Hanford believes that if UM plays well against Gonzaga and the weather is Montana-friendly, the Lady Griz will have a very good shot against their SoCal opponents.
"They are the best team we will see all year, so I am looking forward to the women going out and competing," Hanford said. "Hopefully we can get a win (against Gonzaga) and it will carry some confidence into that Sac State match. Hopefully it's a little cold and windy Saturday morning and that will help us out."
UM is led by junior Annabelle Janairo, who has posted a 3-1 record in conference play.
The ladies will duel Sacramento State at 10 a.m. and the men will follow soon after the conclusion of those matches at 1 p.m. All matches will be played at the Robert O. Lindsay Tennis Complex on campus.
The men's team will face conference rivals Sacramento State on Saturday.
The Griz enter the Saturday match-up with a 6-9 record that includes a 1-4 record against Big Sky Conference opponents, leaving them tied for 5th place with Weber State in the conference. UM is coming off a decent weekend during which it lost a 4-3 decision to Idaho State and bested the Wildcats 5-2.
"We lost 4-3 and that's the 2nd straight conference game we've lost 4-3 (UM lost 4-3 to Northern Arizona on April 3) and I think it's about time we won one like that," said UM junior Jan Steenekamp. "Hopefully everybody is motivated and ready to play."
Montana has had constant trouble this season winning doubles matches and stressed that area during practice this week.
"We are (confident in our doubles teams)," sophomore Varun Giri said. "The last few matches we have gotten pretty close. We've been losing those crucial points so that's what we've been practicing the last few days."
The Hornets are 10-8 on the season and hold a 2-1 record in Big Sky Conference play. They are also coming off a dominating 6-1 victory over Eastern Washington last week. Sacramento State is led by strong play from its lower-end players, such as junior Peter Farkas and freshmen Warwick Foy and Roman Perez. Warwick and Perez have compiled a 28-22 record playing in the No. 4 through No. 6 singles positions. The Hornets have also had some trouble finding consistency at the No. 1 position, but junior Matt Jones seems to have temporarily completed the job, compiling a 3-2 record at the spot.
UM will once again be without the services of Stan Nevolovich, who is still nursing a knee injury. UM head coach Brian Hanford hopes the junior will return in time to compete in the conference tournament at the end of the month.
The UM women's team faces perhaps a more strenuous battle this weekend than the men's team. The 1-11 Lady Griz will open up competition against Gonzaga at 2 p.m. today. After the Gonzaga match-up, UM will take on the tough Lady Hornets of Sacramento State.
Sacramento State is currently ranked 28th nationally in the International Tennis Association and boasts a 17-3 record. The Hornets are riding a 12-match winning streak, which includes a 6-1 thrashing over 10th-ranked Fresno State last week. Also, they have not lost since their Feb. 12 game against the University of Washington.
Sacramento State has been led by very strong individual play. The worst individual record on their roster is that of Marta Gronowicz, who comes to Missoula with a 9-9 record. The Lady Hornets are led by their No. 1 and 2 players Margarita Karnaukhova (who is currently ranked 78th in the nation and the current conference player of the week) and Anna Erickson. They have a combined 32-4 record so far this season.
Despite the fact that they will be playing a team as hot as Sacramento State, the Lady Griz are ready to roll and are not feeling the least bit intimidated.
"It's definitely not intimidating to us as a team," said UM junior Bonny Bower. "We want to win a match and we are going to do everything we can to get that done. We're as good as every team out there so we are going to do our best to win."
Hanford believes that if UM plays well against Gonzaga and the weather is Montana-friendly, the Lady Griz will have a very good shot against their SoCal opponents.
"They are the best team we will see all year, so I am looking forward to the women going out and competing," Hanford said. "Hopefully we can get a win (against Gonzaga) and it will carry some confidence into that Sac State match. Hopefully it's a little cold and windy Saturday morning and that will help us out."
UM is led by junior Annabelle Janairo, who has posted a 3-1 record in conference play.
The ladies will duel Sacramento State at 10 a.m. and the men will follow soon after the conclusion of those matches at 1 p.m. All matches will be played at the Robert O. Lindsay Tennis Complex on campus.
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