Eagles knock off Grizzlies 5-2

Sunday, January 24

Pullman, Wash.

10:00 AM (MT)

Montana

Eastern Washington

1/24/2016 5:36:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Montana Sports Information

Eastern Washington captured the doubles point and used a strong showing in singles to defeat the Montana women's tennis team 5-2 Sunday in a neutral-site, nonconference match at Washington State's Simmelink Tennis Courts in Pullman, Wash.

It was the first win for the Eagles (2-2), who were picked 10th in the preseason Big Sky Conference coaches' poll, over the Grizzlies (0-2), who were picked third, since 2009.

"Eastern played solid tennis today. We will use this match as a strong reminder that every match is a challenge and that we need to continue to improve and raise our level," said coach Steve Ascher.

Eastern Washington wasted little time setting the tone for the match, winning 6-2 at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to establish a 1-0 lead. Haley Driver and Francis Dean won 7-5 at No. 1.

The Eagles' Janaya Smith, a second-team All-Big Sky selection last spring as a freshman, handled Dean 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, and Rachel Swindell and Faye Worrall had straight-set wins at Nos. 3 and 6 over Montana's Hannah Sulz and Catherine Orfanos to give EWU all the points it would need.

The Grizzlies' picked up their lone singles victories at No. 2, where Driver defeated Moira Hedberg in three sets, and at No. 4, where freshman Lidia Dukic topped Dani Young 6-2, 6-4.

EWU's Erin Blessing rallied to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5 over Cam Kincaid.

"We will continue to work hard to prepare ourselves to grow and be a much fiercer team in the near future," added Ascher.

Montana will travel to Spokane next weekend for a pair of matches at Gonzaga's Stevens Center. The Grizzlies will play the Bulldogs (1-1) on Friday, then have a neutral-site match against Nevada (0-2) on Saturday.

Eastern Washington 5, Montana 2
Jan. 24, 2016 at Pullman, Wash. (Simmelink Tennis Courts)

SINGLES
No. 1 Janaya Smith (EWU) def. Francis Dean (UM) 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 Haley Driver (UM) def. Moira Hedberg (EWU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
No. 3 Rachel Swindell (EWU) def. Hannah Sulz (UM) 7-5, 6-4
No. 4 Lidia Dukic (UM) def. Dani Young (EWU) 6-2, 6-4
No. 5 Erin Blessing (EWU) def. Cam Kincaid (UM) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 Faye Worrall (EWU) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM) 6-3, 6-1

DOUBLES
No. 1 Francis Dean/Haley Driver (UM) def. Janaya Smith/Faye Worrall (EWU) 7-5
No. 2 Katrina Domingo/Dani Young (EWU) def. Cam Kincaid/Hannah Sulz (UM) 6-2
No. 3 Erin Blessing/Moira Hedberg (EWU) def. Lidia Dukic/Catherine Orfanos (UM) 6-2

Eastern Washington: 2-2
Montana: 0-2