Griz represent well at Long Beach tournament

Friday, October 9

Long Beach, Calif.

Montana

Long Beach State Invitational

10/12/2015 7:09:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Montana Sports Information

The wins were fewer but the experiences more valuable as the Montana women's tennis team faced a tournament field of strong competition at the Long Beach State Invitational over the weekend in Long Beach, Calif.

The Grizzlies opened their fall schedule with tournaments at Washington State and Boise State.

Playing in hot conditions and against opponents from UCLA, Wisconsin, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge and the host 49ers, among others, the Grizzlies picked up 10 victories over three days of competition, with junior Stanzi Stuijt winning Flight D.

"The tennis was very strong, and we faced challenging conditions, with slower courts and temperatures over 100 degrees," said UM coach Steve Ascher.

"The first day was dicey with everyone working hard to adapt to the conditions and heat. The second and third days saw much-improved play."

Stuijt, a transfer from West Alabama, went unbeaten through the draw in Flight D, dropping just a single set in three matches.

She defeated Fullerton's Caroleen Faraji in three sets in the opener, pulling out a 7-6 (4) win in the third set, then knocked off Grand Canyon's Marie Deleval and Loyola Marymount's Julia Norlin in the semifinals and championship, both by 6-3, 6-3 scores.

"It was nice to see Stanzi show improved consistency and handle pressure situations better," said Ascher. "She has made significant gains since our first tournament of the fall in Pullman."

Junior Francis Dean, a transfer from Pacific, won a pair of matches in the Flight A consolation bracket, including a hard-fought 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 win over Northridge's Vivian Lin in the semifinals.

Sophomore Cam Kincaid won her opening match in Flight B, and sophomore Catherine Orfanos defeated UCLA's Cameron Patterson 6-0, 6-1 in Flight C's consolation bracket.

"Francis played a great match against her opponent from Northridge," said Ascher. "She was very determined. She dug in on defense and showed some solid offense to push through."

In doubles competition, Dean and Orfanos picked up a win in the A bracket, and junior Ana Carbo teamed up with Patterson of UCLA for a win in the B bracket.

"These are the types of tournaments we need to push ourselves both mentally and physically in order to improve," said Ascher.

"There are so many good teams and players out there. It's fun to challenge ourselves to improve and get an opportunity to be successful against some nationally ranked teams."

Montana will play again in two weeks at Cal State Northridge, then wrap up its fall schedule in early November at the Gonzaga Invitational.

Long Beach State Invitational Results

Flight A
R16 -- Maeva Razakasoa (LBSU) def. Hannah Sulz (UM), 6-0, 6-2
R16 -- Alexis Valenzuela (CSUF) def. Francis Dean (UM), 6-2, 6-3
Con QF -- Francis Dean (UM) def. Siena Peri (PSU), 6-2, Ret.
Con QF -- Sydney Rider (WISC) def. Hannah Sulz (UM), 7-6 (4), 6-4
Con SF -- Francis Dean (UM) def. Vivian Lin (CSUN), 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
Con CH -- Tatum Prudhomme (GCU) def. Francis Dean (UM), 6-2, 6-2

Flight B
R16 -- Cam Kincaid (UM) def. Sabina Preda (PSU), 6-0, 1-6, 6-2
R16 -- Sarah Nuno (CSUF) def. Lidia Dukic (UM), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
QF -- Ki Kim (CSUN) def. Cam Kincaid (UM), 6-1, 6-3
Con QF -- Skyla Alcon (CSUN) def. Lidia Dukic (UM), 3-6, 6-2, 6-0

Flight C
R16 -- Scout Shutter (CSUN) def. Ana Carbo (UM), 6-3, 7-6 (1)
R16 -- Georgie Sanders (LBSU) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM), 7-5, 6-0
Con QF -- Catherine Orfanos (UM) def. Cameron Patterson (UCLA), 6-0, 6-1
Con QF -- Caroline Hall (WISC) def. Ana Carbo (UM), 6-0, 6-1
Con SF -- Taylor Rees (PSU) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM), 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4

Flight D
QF -- Stanzi Stuijt (UM) def. Caroleen Fararji (CSUF), 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4)
SF -- Stanzi Stuijt (UM) def. Marie Deleval (GCU), 6-3, 6-3
CH -- Stanzi Stuijt (UM) def. Julia Norlin (LMU), 6-3, 6-3

Doubles A
R16 -- Alexis Valenzuela/Camille De Leon (CSUF) def. Catherine Orfanos/Francis Dean (UM), 8-1
R16 -- Mickey Hsu/Kristen Poei (CSUN) def. Hannah Sulz/Cam Kincaid (UM), 8-2
Con QF -- Catherine Orfanos/Francis Dean (UM) def. Sabina-Elena Preda/Kelsey Frey (PSU), 8-4
Con QF -- Sarah Nuno/Masako Makiba (CSUF) def. Hannah Sulz/Cam Kincaid (UM), 8-2
Con SF -- Mala Magill/Kristen Wiley (UCLA) def. Catherine Orfanos/Francis Dean (UM), 8-1

Doubles B
R16 -- Ebba Unden/Antonella Santeusanio (LBSU) def. Stanzi Stuijt/Lidia Dukic (UM), 8-5
R16 -- Leslie Chang/Elisaveta Nosenko (CSUN) def. Ana Carbo/Cameron Patterson (UM/UCLA), 8-7 (5)
Con QF -- Ana Carbo/Cameron Patterson (UM/UCLA) def. Alana Chaplin/Ashley Knecht (PSU), 8-2
Con SF -- Siena Peri/Taylor Rees (PSU) def. Stanzi Stuijt/Lidia Dukic (UM), 8-4
Con SF -- Jaclyn Findley/Julia Norlin (LMU) def. Ana Carbo/Cameron Patterson (UM/UCLA), 8-5

Extra Singles
Lidia Dukic (UM) def. Marie Deleval (GCU), 6-0, 6-3
Antonella Santeusanio (LBSU) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM), 6-4, 6-0
Mickey Hsu (CSUN) def. Hannah Sulz (UM), 6-2, 6-2
Sarah Nuno (CSUF) def. Cam Kincaid (UM), 6-2, 6-3
Lana Macukat (GCU) def. Ana Carbo (UM), 6-0, 6-1

Extra Doubles
Lauren Chypyha/Sydney Rider (WISC) def. Hannah Sulz/Cam Kincaid (UM), 8-4
Scout Shutter/Mari Taslagyan (CSUN) def. Stanzi Stuijt/Lidia Dukic (UM), 8-4
Maeva Razakasoa/Julie Gerard (LBSU) def. Catherine Orfanos/Francis Dean (UM), 8-1