Griz split season openers

Saturday, January 21

Pullman, Wash.

11:00 AM (MT)

Montana

Washington State

1/22/2017 6:54:00 AM | Women's Tennis

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's tennis team split its season-opening road matches on Saturday, losing 7-0 to Washington State before bouncing back with a 7-0 victory at Lewis-Clark State.

The Cougars (4-0), who also defeated Montana State later on Saturday by a score of 5-2, remained unbeaten, picking up their third 7-0 sweep of the season.

The Grizzlies' sweep of the Warriors was the second match of the season for both teams. Lewis-Clark State lost by the same score to the Bobcats on Friday night.

"For a start, I was very impressed with our ability to be creative and keep the matches tight," said sophomore Lidia Dukic, who teamed up with freshman Milica Panic for a doubles win against LCSC.

"The level of competition was high, but we kept our mental focus."

The Cougars won the doubles point with a 6-0 win at No. 2 and 6-1 victory at No. 1. Straight-set wins at Nos. 1-3 singles clinched the match for Washington State.

Sophomore Nathalie Joanlanne, who opened with a 6-2 win, pushed Lejla Colic to three sets at No. 4 before falling. Panic lost 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 to Ege Tomey in her collegiate singles debut.

After driving south to Lewiston between matches, the Grizzlies picked up their first win of the season.

Dukic and Panic teamed up at No. 2 doubles for a 6-0 win, and senior Hannah Sulz and junior Catherine Orfanos won 6-2 at No. 1.

Montana won five of the six singles matches in straight sets, with Sulz, Dukic and Orfanos playing at Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Panic fought back for a 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 6 to complete the sweep and pick up her first collegiate singles victory.

"I am very happy with our team chemistry," added Dukic. "I feel like we're all motivating each other more than ever. Things are looking up this season."

The Grizzlies won't play again for two weeks, until facing Iowa State and Iowa in Iowa City the first weekend of February.

Washington State 7, Montana 0
Jan. 21, 2017 at Pullman, Wash. (Simmelink Tennis Courts)

Singles
1. Guzal Yusupova (WSU) def. Hannah Sulz (UM) 6-0, 7-5
2. Barbora Michalkova (WSU) def. Lidia Dukic (UM) 6-2, 6-0
3. Victoria Matejevic (WSU) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM) 6-1, 6-2
4. Lejla Colic (WSU) def. Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
5. Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Stanzi Stuijt (UM) 6-0, 6-3
6. Ege Tomey (WSU) def. Milica Panic (UM) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles
1. Guzal Yusupova/Barbara Michalkova (WSU) def. Hannah Sulz/Lidia Dukic (UM) 6-1
2. Victoria Matejevic/Melisa Ates (WSU) def. Catherine Orfanos/Milica Panic (UM) 6-0
3. Lejla Colic/Ege Tomey (WSU) vs. Nathalie Joanlanne/Stanzi Stuijt (UM) 5-3, DNF

Match Notes
Montana: 0-1
Washington State: 3-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6)

Montana 7, Lewis-Clark State 0
Jan. 21, 2017 at Lewiston, Idaho (LCSC Tennis Center)

Singles
1. Hannah Sulz (UM) def. Lauren Lang (LCSC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Lidia Dukic (UM) def. Hannah Uhlenkott (LCSC) 6-3, 6-4
3. Catherine Orfanos (UM) def. Laura Rosselli (LCSC) 6-2, 6-4
4. Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) def. Jen Roux (LCSC) 7-5, 6-2
5. Stanzi Stuijt (UM) def. Anna Rodriguez (LCSC) 6-0, 6-1
6. Milica Panic (UM) def. Begona Andres (LCSC) 5-7, 6-3, 7-5

Doubles
1. Catherine Orfanos/Hannah Sulz (UM) def. Lauren Lang/Hannah Uhlenkott (LCSC) 6-2
2. Lidia Dukic/Milica Panic (UM) def. Kianna Arthur/Jen Roux (LCSC) 6-0
3. Ana Carbo/Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) def. Begona Andres/Laura Rosselli (LCSC) 7-6 (7-4)

Match Notes
Montana: 1-1
Lewis-Clark State: 0-2