Montana
Utah State
Montana falls to Utah State 4-3
4/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 3, 2014
The Montana women's tennis team lost at Utah State 4-3 Thursday afternoon at Logan, Utah, in the Grizzlies' final regular-season road match.
The Aggies (11-8) improved to 6-0 this season against Big Sky Conference teams and won more handily than the final score suggests.
Utah State had no trouble picking up the doubles point, winning 8-2 at both No. 1 and No. 3, and won in straight sets at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles.
The Aggies were up 4-1 before seniors Ashley Mackey and Maddy Murray began their matches at Nos. 5 and 6. Mackey and Murray both won in straight sets to close the final margin to 4-3.
"(Southern Utah) came out fired up and on an emotional high. Obviously they were geared up to play us," UM coach Steve Ascher said. "And we were just a little bit flat. The mistakes we've been making caught up to us today."
Utah State was playing its fourth straight match at home and hadn't played since Sunday. Montana was concluding a four-match road trip and coming off a draining loss at No. 30 Utah Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.
"We played late last night in an emotional match against a top-30 program, so is there a chance the next day you're not quite as sharp? I suppose, but that's something you have to overcome," Ascher said.
"We need to do a better job when we're not at our best to find ways to compete and put ourselves in a position to win. That's what top performers do. They bring it every day, even when they don't have it."
Juniors Sasha Carter and Laurence Pelchat won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles to improve to 11-5 together this spring. Pelchat also picked up a singles victory, winning 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3.
Mackey's 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 5 singles was her eighth win in her last nine matches. All eight of those victories have come in straight sets. She has a team-best 12-4 singles record this spring.
"Ashley is having a great year," Ascher said. "I think what people probably miss about what Ashley is doing right now is that this is the culmination of three years of Ashley really working to figure it out. The way she's playing is a testament to how much she's been willing to change and work on her game.
"She's matured and become a greater voice on the team and really become an anchor in the lower part of the lineup."
Thursday's match was not only Montana's fourth of a four-match road trip that opened Sunday at Idaho State and continued at Weber State on Monday and Utah on Wednesday. It was also the Grizzlies' 12th straight match away from home.
Montana will play its final five regular-season matches at home, beginning Sunday when the Grizzlies host Eastern Washington at the Peak Racquet Club at 10 a.m.
Home matches follow the next two weekends against Sacramento State, Northern Colorado, North Dakota and Idaho.
"I love the road, because there are opportunities for challenges and growth," Ascher said, "but I'm sure the players are excited to get home and play on a familiar court.
"There is something special about being at home. Sleeping in your own bed, having your routines, knowing when your next meal is. A lot of those factors are out of your control on the road."
Utah State 4, Montana 3
April 3, 2014 at Logan, Utah (Sports Academy and Racquet Club)
Singles competition
1. McKenzie Davis (USU) def. Haley Driver (UM) 6-3, 6-2
2. Kallie Sperry (USU) def. Precious Gbadamosi (UM) 6-3, 6-2
3. Nini Guensler (USU) def. Sasha Carter (UM) 6-1, 7-5
4. Laurence Pelchat (UM) def. Lexi Turley (USU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Ashley Mackey (UM) def. Katie Sweet (USU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Maddy Murray (UM) def. Cassidy Branstine (USU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. McKenzie Davis/Kallie Sperry (USU) def. Haley Driver/Precious Gbadamosi (UM) 8-2
2. Sasha Carter/Laurence Pelchat (UM) def. Amber Stuhlmann/Katie Sweet (USU) 8-4
3. Nini Guensler/Lexi Turley (USU) def. Ashley Mackey/Maddy Murray (UM) 8-2
Match Notes:
Montana: 10-7
Utah State: 11-8
Order of finish: Singles (1,4,2,3,5,6); Doubles (3,2,1)
Players Mentioned
