Friday, March 3
Davis, Calif.
2:30 PM (MT)
Montana
at
UC Davis
Back on the road for women’s tennis
3/1/2017 12:16:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Montana women's tennis team may have lost on Saturday to extend its losing streak to seven matches, but the Grizzlies possibly gained something valuable to the rest of their season in the process of falling to Utah State in Spokane.
"There was a different energy. There was a different way they were carrying themselves and in their responses after points. Everyone's body language was a lot more positive," said coach Steve Ascher.
"It looked like they were digging a little deeper into themselves and trying to find ways to compete at a higher level."
The Grizzlies (1-8, 0-1 BSC) will take those lessons learned and hit the road this week for a pair of challenging matches. Montana will play UC Davis on Friday at 2:30 p.m. (MT) and Sacramento State at 11 a.m. (MT) on Saturday.
The Aggies are 9-3. The Hornets were picked first in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches' poll and will be trying this season to win their 16th consecutive Big Sky championship.
"Saturday's match was huge. It was so starkly different from any other match we've played this year," said Ascher.
"It was a big deal for this group. I don't think it was necessarily out of their comfort zone, but it was a step above where they typically compete. The question becomes, can we take that and move forward?"
Montana opened its trip to Spokane last week with a 7-0 loss to Gonzaga on Friday before falling to Utah State by a score of 5-2 on Saturday.
Both of Montana's wins on Saturday came in singles, both in three sets. Lidia Dukic won at No. 2, her team-leading fourth win in nine dual matches this season, and Nathalie Joanlanne won at No. 4, her third win of the season and second in three matches.
This week's road trip will be one of Montana's toughest of the season.
UC Davis is 9-3, with losses at No. 22 Arizona State, at Hawaii and at home to UC Santa Barbara. Among the Aggies' nine wins were 4-3 victories over Sacramento State and Northern Arizona, the teams picked first and second in this year's Big Sky poll. Montana came in at No. 10.
UC Davis defeated the Lumberjacks in a neutral-site match at Arizona State took down the Hornets on Sacramento State's home court.
A 20-minute trip east on I-80 will get Montana to Sacramento State.
The Hornets (2-7, 1-1 BSC) are going for another Big Sky title this season, but it won't come easily. The team underwent an unexpected coaching change last fall, and Sacramento State already has a head-to-head loss to Northern Arizona.
The Lumberjacks defeated the Hornets in Sacramento two weeks ago, 4-3. Sacramento State bounced back later that day for a 6-1 win over Southern Utah, the team's most recent match.
Montana will make its home debut next week, with three matches in three days at the Peak Racquet Club. The Grizzlies will host Idaho State next Friday at 2 p.m., Southern Utah at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Boise State on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Montana's only other home matches this spring will come in April, against Weber State and Northern Arizona.
"There was a different energy. There was a different way they were carrying themselves and in their responses after points. Everyone's body language was a lot more positive," said coach Steve Ascher.
"It looked like they were digging a little deeper into themselves and trying to find ways to compete at a higher level."
The Grizzlies (1-8, 0-1 BSC) will take those lessons learned and hit the road this week for a pair of challenging matches. Montana will play UC Davis on Friday at 2:30 p.m. (MT) and Sacramento State at 11 a.m. (MT) on Saturday.
The Aggies are 9-3. The Hornets were picked first in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches' poll and will be trying this season to win their 16th consecutive Big Sky championship.
"Saturday's match was huge. It was so starkly different from any other match we've played this year," said Ascher.
"It was a big deal for this group. I don't think it was necessarily out of their comfort zone, but it was a step above where they typically compete. The question becomes, can we take that and move forward?"
Montana opened its trip to Spokane last week with a 7-0 loss to Gonzaga on Friday before falling to Utah State by a score of 5-2 on Saturday.
Both of Montana's wins on Saturday came in singles, both in three sets. Lidia Dukic won at No. 2, her team-leading fourth win in nine dual matches this season, and Nathalie Joanlanne won at No. 4, her third win of the season and second in three matches.
This week's road trip will be one of Montana's toughest of the season.
UC Davis is 9-3, with losses at No. 22 Arizona State, at Hawaii and at home to UC Santa Barbara. Among the Aggies' nine wins were 4-3 victories over Sacramento State and Northern Arizona, the teams picked first and second in this year's Big Sky poll. Montana came in at No. 10.
UC Davis defeated the Lumberjacks in a neutral-site match at Arizona State took down the Hornets on Sacramento State's home court.
A 20-minute trip east on I-80 will get Montana to Sacramento State.
The Hornets (2-7, 1-1 BSC) are going for another Big Sky title this season, but it won't come easily. The team underwent an unexpected coaching change last fall, and Sacramento State already has a head-to-head loss to Northern Arizona.
The Lumberjacks defeated the Hornets in Sacramento two weeks ago, 4-3. Sacramento State bounced back later that day for a 6-1 win over Southern Utah, the team's most recent match.
Montana will make its home debut next week, with three matches in three days at the Peak Racquet Club. The Grizzlies will host Idaho State next Friday at 2 p.m., Southern Utah at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Boise State on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Montana's only other home matches this spring will come in April, against Weber State and Northern Arizona.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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