Montana
Idaho
Griz win close over Idaho
1/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 29, 2012
The University of Montana women's tennis team slid past the Idaho Vandals in thrilling fashion winning 4-3 Sunday in Pullman, Wash., in the final dual of its three match road trip.
Freshman Laurence Pelchat won 7-6 in the third set to clinch a Griz victory. The No. 2 match, which was the last match to finish, went for more than three hours before Pelchat sealed the victory to the sound of cheering from her Grizzly teammates.
The day did not start off so hot for the Grizzlies losing all three doubles matches. The No. 1 match featured Victoria Lozano and Beatriz Flores defeating junior Heather Davidson and Pelchat. Davidson and Pelchat, ranked No. 3 in the Mountain region, suffered their second loss in three matches.
In singles the first three matches to finish saw freshmen Sasha Carter and Precious Gbadamosi losing in straight sets but Davidson winning the No. 1 match over Lozano 6-4, 6-4.
Down 3-1 the Grizzlies felt the cold presence of defeat knocking on the door. That feeling worsened when sophomore Ashley Mackey lost her first set 6-2 to Idaho freshman Sophie Vickers. Mackey, however, rallied and won the next set 7-5 taking all the momentum from Vickers and cruising to a third set win 6-1. The Griz were back in business.
Maddy Murray, feeling the sudden change in fortune for the Griz, continued the Griz momentum and went on to a smooth victory, 6-2, 6-2, over Beatriz Flores.
With the score tied 3-3 and all but one of the matches completed the attention turned to the No. 3 match, that started when the singles matches began, featuring Pelchat and Molly Knox.
It was a close match with Pelchat winning the first set 7-6 and Knox taking the second 7-5. At 5-5 in the third and final set Pelchat, who afterward was fighting off muscle cramps, received serve and made a playable return. During the routine return Pelchat lost her balance and fell flat in which case Knox made an approach for an easy put away. Pelchat determined not to give up on the point popped up and took advantage of the easy winner her opponent attempted and struck a winner of her own to take the point. That single hustle play turned the tide for good and Pelchat went on to win 7-6 after the amazing effort.
"Laurence played so smart today," said coach Steve Ascher. "She is only a freshman and she played gutsy, that took a lot of courage."
The Grizzlies are no strangers to close calls with the Vandals. In spring of 2011, senior Lauren Gibson won over the same player, Knox, in the final match of the day to seal a Griz victory 4-3.
"This is such a close group, and that is a huge part of this victory," continued Ascher. "It is so unique to have group that is this tight, it is so nice to see.
"It was great to pull out a win like this."
The Grizzlies will regroup for the week before heading to Bozeman to play New Mexico in a neutral site match. The match will start at 2:00 p.m. MT.
Tennis Match Results
University of Montana vs. University of Idaho
Pullman, Wash.
1/29/2012
Doubles:
1. LOZANO, Victoria/FLORES, Beatriz (UI) def. DAVIDSON, Heather/PELCHAT, Laurence (UM) 8-4
2. KNOX, Molly/LOZANO, Alejandra (UI) def. MURRAY, Maddy/CARTER, Sasha (UM) 9-7
3. SANZ, Almudena/VICKERS, Sophie (UI) def. MACKEY, Ashley/GBADAMOSI, Precious (UM) 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles:
1. Davidson, Heather (UM) def. LOZANO, Victoria (UI) 6-4,6-4
2. SANZ, Almundena (UI) def. Carter, Sasha (UM) 6-3,6-2
3. Pelchat, Laurence (UM) def. KNOX, Molly (UI) 7-6,5-7,7-6
4. Mackey, Ashley (UM) def. VICKERS, Sophie (UI) 2-6,7-5,6-1
5. LOZANO, Alejandra (UI) def. Gbadamosi, Precious (UM) 6-3,6-2
6. Murray, Maddy (UM) def. FLORES, Beatriz (UI) 6-2,6-2
Order of finish: 2, 1, 5, 4, 6, 3
Players Mentioned
