Griz drop pair of matches in Grand Forks

Saturday, February 18

Grand Forks, N.D.

8:00 AM (MT)

Montana

Northern Iowa

2/18/2017 4:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's tennis team dropped a pair of 5-2 decisions to Northern Iowa and South Dakota State on Saturday in neutral-site matches at Choice Health and Fitness in Grand Forks, N.D.

The Grizzlies (1-6) opened their road trip with a 5-2 loss to North Dakota on Friday in their first Big Sky Conference match of the season.

"We'll learn from these matches," said coach Steve Ascher. "We are doing a good job of making adjustments and pushing matches, but we need to find ways to pull out a few more wins.

"It's a challenging situation, but the players' mindsets are developing each day, and we are working hard to get better."

The challenging situation on Saturday was giving up a point in both matches because of injury. Freshman Milica Panic was able to play doubles but a leg injury kept her out of singles.

With only six players on the trip and no one to replace Panic, that essentially put the Grizzlies in a 1-0 hole before either match began.

In the morning match against the Panthers (4-1), Montana picked up its first doubles point of the season against Division I competition, with Panic and Lidia Dukic winning 6-2 at No. 2 and Ana Carbo and Nathalie Joanlanne pulling out a 7-6 win at No. 3.

Only Hannah Sulz, a 6-3, 6-1 winner at No. 1, was able to pick up a victory in singles. Dukic, at No. 2, and Joanlanne, at No. 5, both lost in straight sets but only after forcing second-set tiebreakers.

In the afternoon match against the Jackrabbits (1-6), Montana lost the doubles point, falling at Nos. 1 and 2. Carbo and Joanlanne improved to 2-0 on the day with a 6-3 win at No. 3.

Dukic picked up her second singles win of the road trip with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2. Joanlanne earned her first Division I singles win as a Grizzly with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Montana State transfer Molly Crum at No. 4.

Montana will face Gonzaga and Utah State next weekend in Spokane, Wash.

Northern Iowa 5, Montana 2
Feb 18, 2017 at Grand Forks, N.D.
(Choice Health and Fitness)

Singles competition
1. Hannah Sulz (UM) def. Jieke Stroobant (UNI) 6-3, 6-1
2. Elvira Lopez (UNI) def. Lidia Dukic (UM) 6-2, 7-6 (2)
3. Astrid Santos (UNI) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM) 6-0, 7-5
4. Gisela Kemper (UNI) def. Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) 6-4, 7-6 (3)
5. Sydney Wolfe (UNI) def. Anabel Carbo (UM) 6-3, 6-3
6. Eve Small (UNI) def. Milica Panic (UM), walkover

Doubles competition
1. Elvira Lopez/Astrid Santos (UNI) def. Catherine Orfanos/Hannah Sulz (UM) 6-3
2. Lidia Dukic/Milica Panic (UM) def. Jieke Stroobant/Sydney Wolfe (UNI) 6-2
3. Ana Carbo/Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) def. Gisela Kemper/Eve Small (UNI) 7-6

Match Notes:
Montana: 1-5
Northern Iowa: 4-1

South Dakota State 5, Montana 2
Feb 18, 2017 at Grand Forks, N.D.
(Choice Health and Fitness)

Singles competition
1. Iasmin Rosa (SDSU) def. Hannah Sulz (UM) 6-3, 6-1
2. Lidia Dukic (UM) def. Maria Laura Velazco (SDSU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Morgan Brower (SDSU) def. Catherine Orfanos (UM) 6-1, 6-4
4. Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) def. Molly Crum (SDSU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Laura Romero (SDSU) def. Ana Carbo (UM) 6-3, 6-4
6. Emilly Van Dijk (SDSU) def. Milica Panic (UM) walkover

Doubles competition
1. Morgan Brower/Iasmin Rosa (SDSU) def. Catherine Orfanos/Hannah Sulz (UM) 6-0
2. Emilly Van Dijk/Maria Laura Velazco (SDSU) def. Lidia Dukic/Milica Panic (UM) 6-3
3. Ana Carbo/Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) def. Molly Crum/Elif Gabb (SDSU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Montana: 1-6
South Dakota State: 1-6