Grizzlies pull out 4-3 victory over Bengals

Friday, April 22

Pocatello, Idaho

Noon

Montana

Idaho State *

4/22/2016 7:40:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Montana Sports Information

With her team in a 3-3 deadlock with Idaho State Friday afternoon at ISU's Reed Gym in Pocatello, freshman Lidia Dukic pulled out a tense 10-8 tiebreaker in the third set at No. 2 singles to give the Montana women's tennis team a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Bengals.

Montana (4-16, 3-7 BSC), which put an end to its 12-match losing streak with the victory, won the doubles point and got wins from junior Francis Dean at No. 1 and sophomore Cam Kincaid at No. 4 to go up 3-1.

Idaho State (5-13, 3-7 BSC) fought back to win at Nos. 5 and 6 to even the score 3-3. That turned everyone's attention to the battle at No. 2 between Dukic and Idaho State senior Svenja Tegtmeier.

The players split 6-3 decisions in sets one and two. Dukic, who also teamed up with Kincaid for a win at No. 2 doubles, pulled out the third set and handed her team its first victory since February with a 7-6 (8) decision.

Juniors Ana Carbo and Hannah Sulz picked up a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles, giving five different players a taste of success on Friday.

"It was a team effort today," said coach Steve Ascher, whose team will conclude its season Saturday morning with a match at Weber State. "It's nice to see growth and know we still have one more match to improve and get better."

Dean picked up her first win at No. 1 since topping Lewis-Clark State's Lauren Lang back in February. Three of her losses since then came in three-set decisions.

"It felt good to finally be able to win a singles match after all the close ones I've had," said Dean. "The team feels great. We're ready to go to Weber State and play tomorrow. I think we'll play with intensity and fight like we always do."

Weber State (8-13, 7-3 BSC), which has already clinched a spot in next week's Big Sky Conference tournament in Gold River, Calif., lost to Sacramento State (13-8, 9-1 BSC) by a score of 5-2 Friday in Ogden.

Montana 4, Idaho State 3
April 22, 2016 at Pocatello, Idaho (Reed Gym)

Singles competition
1. DEAN, Francis (UM) def. BACON, Kasey (ISU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
2. DUKIC, Lidia (UM) def. TEGTMEIER, Svenja (ISU) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8)
3. BOECKMANN, Wiebke (ISU) def. SULZ, Hannah (UM) 6-1, 6-0
4. KINCAID, Cam (UM) def. ALEXANDERSEN, Nonie (ISU) 6-2, 7-5
5. THEUS, Laura (ISU) def. ORFANOS, Catherine (UM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. COLE, Taylor (ISU) def. STUIJT, Stanzi (UM) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. BOECKMANN, Wiebke/TEGTMEIER, Svenja (ISU) def. DEAN, Francis/ORFANOS, Catherine (UM) 6-1
2. DUKIC, Lidia/KINCAID, Cam (UM) def. BACON, Kasey/THEUS, Laura (ISU) 6-4
3. CARBO, Anabel/SULZ, Hannah (UM) def. ALEXANDERSEN, Nonie/GUTIERREZ, Laura (ISU) 6-4

Match Notes
Montana 4-16, 3-7 BSC
Idaho State 5-13, 3-7 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,4,1,6,5,2)