Griz compete at BYU Invitational

Thursday, September 22

Provo, Utah

All Day

Montana

BYU Invitational

9/26/2016 5:22:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's tennis team played in its second tournament of the fall season over the weekend when the Grizzlies competed at the four-team BYU Invitational at Provo, Utah.

Montana competed against players from BYU, Utah State and Weber State.

"I thought the team used every match to improve, learn and gain experience," said ninth-year coach Steve Ascher. "It was an exciting tournament because each match posed a different strategy and was very competitive."

Senior Stanzi Stuijt and sophomore Lidia Dukic both won matches in the main singles draw, with Dukic knocking off Sarah Clifford of BYU 6-3, 6-0 in the round of 16.

In the singles consolation bracket, junior Catherine Orfanos picked up wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds over opponents from Weber State. She came back from down a set to defeat Morgan Dickason 2-6, 6-0, 1-0 (12-10) in the semifinals. The consolation championship match was not played.

Sophomore Nathalie Joanlanne, a first-year transfer from Wisconsin, picked up a straight-set victory in the consolation bracket quarterfinals.

Because of wet weather, the entire tournament was played on four indoor courts.

"I think we all played pretty well," said Orfanos. "Since there were only four courts, we got to watch each other's matches. I think we're all happy with how we played."

Montana opened its fall season two weeks prior at Washington State.

"Our point construction was so much better (than it was at Washington State)," added Orfanos. "Being inside, with the elements gone, we played really clean tennis."

The tournament included a number of off-bracket singles and doubles matches that were not available as of Monday afternoon.

Montana will play at Long Beach State's tournament in two weeks and at the Gonzaga Invitational in Spokane the first weekend of November.

"I was impressed with how composed the players were and how ready they were to grasp new information and apply it immediately," said Ascher. "If it was any indication of how we are going to be as a group, this team will improve dramatically over the next month."

Singles draw
R32 -- Stanzi Stuijt (UM) def. Dominique Beauvais (WSU), 7-6, 4-6, 6-3
R16 -- Lidia Dukic (UM) def. Sarah Clifford (BYU), 6-3, 6-0
R16 -- Samantha Smith (BYU) def. Stanzi Stuijt (UM), 6-3, 6-4
R16 -- Sara Parker (WSU) def. Nathalie Joanlanne (UM), 6-3, 7-6
R16 -- Ekaterina Tugarinova (USU) def. def. Hannah Sulz (UM), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
R16 -- Caitlin Herb (WSU) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM), 6-3, 6-2
QF -- Nini Guensler (USU) def. Lidia Dukic (UM), 6-0, 6-2

Singles consolation
R16 -- Morgan Dickason (WSU) def. Stanzi Stuijt (UM)
QF -- Catherine Orfanos (UM) def. Devi Hasan (WSU)
QF -- Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) def. Dominique Beauvais (WSU), 6-3, 6-2
QF -- Tereza Pilzova (WSU) def. Hannah Sulz (UM), 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7)
SF -- Catherine Orfanos (UM) def. Morgan Dickason (WSU), 2-6, 6-0, 1-0 (12-10)
SF -- Tereza Pilzova (WSU) def. Nathalie Joanlanne (UM), 6-4, 6-3

Doubles draw
QF -- Dominique Beauvais/Sara Parker (WSU) def. Catherine Orfanos/Hannah Sulz (UM), 6-0
QF -- Nini Guensler/Ekaterina Tugarinova (USU) def. Lidia Dukic/Stanzi Stuijt (UM), 6-4