Sunday, February 14
Missoula, Mont.
8:00 AM
Montana
vs
North Dakota *
Women’s tennis match rescheduled for Sunday
2/11/2016 4:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Update I: Friday's match between the Montana women's tennis team and North Dakota, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at the Peak Racquet Club, has been postponed due to mechanical problems and rescheduled airline flights. Options to play the match later in the weekend -- North Dakota is scheduled to play at Montana State on Saturday -- are being explored.
Update II: The Big Sky Conference women's tennis match between Montana and North Dakota, originally scheduled to be played Friday at 1 p.m. at the Pack Racquet Club, will be played on Sunday starting at 8 a.m. at the Peak. The Fighting Hawks, whose flight on Thursday was cancelled because of mechanical issues, play at Montana State on Saturday.
After a long series on the road in Washington, the Montana women's tennis team will face North Dakota at home in Missoula.
The Grizzlies (0-4) will host the Fighting Hawks (1-6) at 1 p.m. Friday at the Peak Racquet Club.
After coming off a tough series on the road, the Grizzlies' excitement to be opening Big Sky Conference play at home is very apparent.
"Conference is where it's at!" says senior Haley Driver. "Obviously out-of-conference matches are a fun challenge, but Big Sky matches at home are exciting because we feel confident defending our Peak fortress and getting W's in front of our home crowd!"
Being the Grizzlies' sole senior on the team, Driver has unique perspective on being a leader with experience.
"It's been different for sure. I feel like I have a lot of experience to offer, but at some point it's only my experience and it's important my teammates create their own."
One thing that can't be downplayed when talking to Driver is the team's confidence moving forward with conference rivals.
"I think Montana tennis has proved we belong in the picture every year." Driver said.
"The season has really just started, so we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but the drive is there, the work is being put in and lessons are being learned, which is exactly what we need to focus on in order to get where we want come conference tourney time."
With both programs bringing high energy to the match, coach Steve Ascher's focus remains steadfast.
"We take every opponent in the Big Sky seriously, so I wouldn't see us as anything more than that," he said.
Since 2012, North Dakota has been a member of the Big Sky Conference, and a border rivalry has been emerging between the Grizzlies and Fighting Hawks. Between both programs, Driver is the only senior, meaning both teams' underclassmen have an opportunity to evolve this young rivalry into a better known Border War.
"They are still relatively new to the conference, so it takes years to establish something that is viewed as a big rivalry," Ascher said. "Though I like the idea of a Border War."
One thing that is certain is both Montana and North Dakota are looking to start conference play with a win, using it as momentum to make a run for the Big Sky Conference title.
Montana has two matches remaining in February. Both are home on the 27th against Montana State at 9 a.m. and Lewis-Clark State at 5 p.m.
Update II: The Big Sky Conference women's tennis match between Montana and North Dakota, originally scheduled to be played Friday at 1 p.m. at the Pack Racquet Club, will be played on Sunday starting at 8 a.m. at the Peak. The Fighting Hawks, whose flight on Thursday was cancelled because of mechanical issues, play at Montana State on Saturday.
After a long series on the road in Washington, the Montana women's tennis team will face North Dakota at home in Missoula.
The Grizzlies (0-4) will host the Fighting Hawks (1-6) at 1 p.m. Friday at the Peak Racquet Club.
After coming off a tough series on the road, the Grizzlies' excitement to be opening Big Sky Conference play at home is very apparent.
"Conference is where it's at!" says senior Haley Driver. "Obviously out-of-conference matches are a fun challenge, but Big Sky matches at home are exciting because we feel confident defending our Peak fortress and getting W's in front of our home crowd!"
Being the Grizzlies' sole senior on the team, Driver has unique perspective on being a leader with experience.
"It's been different for sure. I feel like I have a lot of experience to offer, but at some point it's only my experience and it's important my teammates create their own."
One thing that can't be downplayed when talking to Driver is the team's confidence moving forward with conference rivals.
"I think Montana tennis has proved we belong in the picture every year." Driver said.
"The season has really just started, so we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but the drive is there, the work is being put in and lessons are being learned, which is exactly what we need to focus on in order to get where we want come conference tourney time."
With both programs bringing high energy to the match, coach Steve Ascher's focus remains steadfast.
"We take every opponent in the Big Sky seriously, so I wouldn't see us as anything more than that," he said.
Since 2012, North Dakota has been a member of the Big Sky Conference, and a border rivalry has been emerging between the Grizzlies and Fighting Hawks. Between both programs, Driver is the only senior, meaning both teams' underclassmen have an opportunity to evolve this young rivalry into a better known Border War.
"They are still relatively new to the conference, so it takes years to establish something that is viewed as a big rivalry," Ascher said. "Though I like the idea of a Border War."
One thing that is certain is both Montana and North Dakota are looking to start conference play with a win, using it as momentum to make a run for the Big Sky Conference title.
Montana has two matches remaining in February. Both are home on the 27th against Montana State at 9 a.m. and Lewis-Clark State at 5 p.m.
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