Women's tennis team awaits Portland State
2/27/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 27, 2014
The Montana Grizzly women's tennis team battles Portland State at 9 a.m. on Sunday at the Peak Racquet Club.
After 7-0 wins over Lewis-Clark State and Montana State nearly two weeks ago, the Griz have recuperated and prepared for its second Big Sky Conference match of the spring season.
"It's different because the last few years we've traveled a lot more early on in the season," senior Ashley Mackey said. "It's nice having home-court advantage and being in our own environment."
The Griz have dominated in its last three duels, taking 18 of 21 points and winning three in-a-row.
Last week, after three straight singles and doubles wins, Precious Gbadamosi was named conference player of the week. But the success expands beyond the No. 1 slot. Nearly all of the roster has won two or three singles matches in a row -- and in dominant fashion. Mackey has won in straight sets her last three matches, outscoring opponents 36-4 in that stretch.
The Vikings (2-3, 1-1 BSC) come into the Missoula valley fresh off a major win against Northern Arizona. Last weekend the Viks beat down the Lumberjacks 6-1 -- its first ever win against NAU in 14 attempts.
PSU Head Coach Jay Sterling told goviks.com the win announced to the conference that "we're here, and we're going to compete, and we're going to contend to make championships."
The Vikings have just one senior, Marina Todd, and three juniors. Dane Vorster is 3-2 at No. 1 singles, so Gbadamosi will most likely face the Australian native. Sabina-Elena Preda is the only other Viking with at least three wins, all of which have come at No. 3 singles.
The Griz haven't lost to the Vikings in Mackey's first three seasons in maroon, but this year's team does pose a threat.
"I'm sure they're very amped they just beat Northern Arizona, " Mackey added. "They're going to come in ready to take it to us, but we're in our own environment and we're comfortable here. So it's going to be hard for them to adjust to how we've played at home."
The Griz have handled PSU fairly easily in recent years -- both home and away. Last year and in 2012, UM swept PSU 7-0. In fact, the closest game in the last five years was a 5-2 Grizzly defeat of the Vikings in 2009.
"We just do a good job of keeping our playing level high against them," Mackey said. "We just play how we practice and go in confident. The main focus is playing our game and staying aggressive if we go up in the set."
