Griz win thriller in Flagstaff

Sunday, March 23

Flagstaff, Ariz.

11:00 AM

Montana

Northern Arizona

Maddy Murray went 2-1 in singles play over the weekend.

3/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

March 23, 2014

Each team had earned three team points. To win, or to lose -- it all came down to Sasha Carter, who was behind 5-2 in the third set against Northern Arizona's Jordan Denesik.

Carter gained momentum with a few slick shots, and kept it going, coming back to win with a 7-5 third set, giving her team the 4-3 win over rival NAU.

"It was nerve-wracking for the both us," Carter said. "We both wanted to win. I went down 5-2, and I knew Precious' match was close, so I just wanted to get it close so I could give myself an opportunity to win."

UM won the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches, while NAU claimed the No. 3 doubles flight.

Elevation, wind and sun were all challenges Steve Ascher's squad overcame. Haley Driver, Laurence Pelchat and Ashley Mackey shielded the elements just fine, as they all won in straight sets. Gbadamosi narrowly lost to NAU's Emelia Box at No. 2 singles.

"We knew it was going to be a frustrating match," Carter said. "We didn't let the elements get to us."

Lumberjack head coach Kim Bruno told NAU Athletics that it was a difficult loss, and as Steve Ascher said this week, NAU-Montana is a legimate tennis rivalry.

"This one stings," Bruno said. "We have a rivalry with Montana and I think what the girls can learn from this is that we are right there in the Big Sky."

After a three win weekend, UM moves to 8-5 overall and 3-0 in conference play.

Montana 4, Northern Arizona 3
Sunday, March 23 at Flagstaff, Ariz.

Doubles results
No. 1 Haley Driver/Precious Gbadamosi (UM) def. Emelia Box/Hailey Rochin (NAU) 8-3
No. 2 Laurence Peichat/Sasha Carter (UM) def. Johanna Vang/SarahMaria Spruch (NAU) 8-3
No. 3 Jordan Denesik/Tatum Rochin (NAU) def. Ashley Mackey/Maddy Murray (UM) 8-3

Singles results
No. 1 Haley Driver (UM) def. Johanna Vang (NAU) 7-5, 6-2
No. 2 Emelia Box (NAU) def. Precious Gbadamosi (UM) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6-0)
No. 3 Sasha Carter (UM) def. Jordan Denesik (NAU) 6-7 (1-0), 7-5, 7-5
No. 4 Hailey Rochin (NAU) def. Laurence Peichat (UM) 7-5, 6-1
No. 5 Ashley Mackey (UM) def. Tatum Rochin (NAU) 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 Sarah Maria Spruch (NAU) def. Maddy Murray (UM) 6-1, 6-1