Montana
Eastern Washington
UM women's tennis continues undefeated conference run
2/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 26, 2011
The University of Montana women's tennis team extended its Big Sky record to 3-0 with a 5-2 conference win over eastern Washington Saturday. The Eagles dropped to 1-2 in league play while the Grizzlies moved to an even 5-5 overall following a tough schedule at the open of spring play.
In play Saturday, the Grizzlies swept doubles matches for the third consecutive time in a conference dual.
With Montana leading 1-0, Grizzlies pulled singles wins at Nos. 2-5, in a move that is becoming automatic in UM dual play.
Winning at No. 2, with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Judy Liening, Rebecca Bran extended her singles record to an even 5-5. The Grizzlies move to 7-3 at the No. 2 spot, with Grizzlies going 7-1 in recent matches at that number.
Sophomore Constance Alexander extended her winning streak to seven with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 match at No. 3. Nearly the closest match of the night, Alexander's would take the clinching point for Montana. The Bonita, Calif. native topped Ryann Warner in her victory, moving UM to 8-2 at the No. 3 spot.
Alexander's match, a back-and-fourth three setter, was a close win for the Grizzlies. The sophomore said, "The first set, I was feeling some knee pain, so I focused really hard. In the second, I was less focused and my opponent got the best of me. I was able to regain that same focus from my first set in the third, just sort of getting over it. I worked on hitting through my shots to get back that good movement. I found a much better direction on all of my shots toward the end of the match.
"It was a very tough match--a mental game really. That has become a big focus for the team mentally, to compete in those close matches and maintain focus. It really shows how well we compete, especially at the conference level."
With her eighth consecutive singles victory senior Whitney Paluch defeated Eagle Chelsea Patton 6-1, 6-2. In combined singles and doubles matches. Paluch has won her last 11 matches in total.
Moving to a 3-0 Big Sky record, freshman Ashley Mackey took her match at No. 5, defeating Nefeli Diamanti 6-1, 6-3. The win put Mackey at 4-1 for her last five matches at No. 5 for the Grizzlies. The freshman is joined in her undefeated Big Sky record by Alexander, Paluch and Bran.
Also of note Saturday was the three-set match played by Grizzly sophomore Heather Davidson at No. 1. Davidson played to three sets vs. Eagle Caitlin Bampton, pushing to three tiebreakers in a single match. Davidson lost 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 10-6, playing a third-set tiebreaker following the clinch by Alexander.
Following play Saturday, UM coach Steve Ascher said, "our doubles presence in Big Sky matches is a place where we have done really well so far. With our team showing so strongly at the top and through the middle of our lineup in conference matches, it provides great momentum for when we see teams like Sac State and NAU later on.
"As a team, we just need to continue to play and to get better, always pushing to that point when we challenge those top programs."
Speaking of top programs, Ascher deemed the success of the UM weekend, noting, "I am excited for the team to get this chance to play Idaho tomorrow. They have long been regarded as one of the top regional teams, playing at a level that we strive for as well. With the previous two matches leading up to the strongest competition of the weekend, I see our players carrying in a lot of rhythm and momentum from wins so far."
Montana faces Idaho at a Pullman, Wash. neutral site on the campus of Washington State University Sunday at noon.
Tennis Match Results
Montana vs Eastern Washington
Feb 26, 2011 at Cheney, Wash
Montana 5, Eastern Washington 2
Singles competition
1. BAMPTON, Caitlin (EWU) def. Davidson, Heather (UM) 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (9-7), 10-6
2. Bran, Rebecca (UM) def. LIENING, Judy (EWU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Alexander, Constance (UM) def. WARNER, Ryann (EWU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
4. Paluch, Whitney (UM) def. PATTON, Chelsea (EWU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Mackey, Ashley (UM) def. DIAMANTI, Nefeli (EWU) 6-1, 6-3
6. RICKS, Helon (EWU) def. Gibson, Lauren (UM) 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
Doubles competition
1. BRAN, Rebecca/PALUCH, Whitney (UM) def. LIENING, Judy/DIAMANTI, Nefeli (EWU) 8-6
2. ALEXANDER, Constance/MACKEY, Ashley (UM) def. PATTON, Chelsea/BAMPTON, Caitlin (EWU) 8-5
3. DAVIDSON, Heather/GIBSON, Lauren (UM) def. RICKS, Helon/NORENA, Rocio (EWU) 8-5
Match Notes:
Montana 5-5 (3-0 BSC)
Eastern Washington 5-7 (1-2 BSC)
Players Mentioned
