Saturday, March 11
Missoula, Mont.
10:00 AM
Montana
4
vs
3
Southern Utah
Kincaid returns, sparks Griz to victory
3/11/2017 3:52:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Since her straight-set victory in Montana's match at Weber State last April, Cam Kincaid had been sitting on the sideline with an injured wrist.
First she sat out for the team's entire fall tournament schedule while seeking a solution that might allow her to return to the court.
Then she missed the first nine matches of the team's spring dual season, an interminable purgatory for someone who won 34 singles matches and 36 times in doubles as a freshman and sophomore.
After Friday afternoon's 6-1 loss to Idaho State at the Peak Racquet Club, the Grizzlies' 10th consecutive loss, Kincaid had finally had enough of life as a spectator.
"Maybe it was seeing the team lose yesterday, but whatever it was, she came to me and said she wanted to play," said coach Steve Ascher. "That's what I'd been waiting to hear."
Despite losing the doubles point, Montana claimed four of six singles matches, with Kincaid winning 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6, to defeat Southern Utah 4-3 on Saturday at the Peak.
Kincaid's victory gave the Grizzlies a 4-2 lead and locked up the win. It was the first victory for Montana at No. 5 or 6 singles in 12 matches this spring against Division I competition.
"I was happy to take some pressure off the lineup, because they've had a lot of pressure at the top," said Kincaid. "It was nice to help them out."
Montana (2-11, 1-3 BSC) looked like it was on its way to its 11th straight loss after the Grizzlies opened the match with a listless showing in doubles.
Southern Utah (1-11, 0-6 BSC), which was also seeking its first Big Sky Conference win of the season, rolled to 6-3 wins at both No. 2 and 3 to grab the early advantage.
"After doubles it felt like if we didn't change something, we were just going to continue down the same path. We talked between doubles and singles about trying to get their heads right," said Ascher.
Whatever was said worked. Montana raced out to three 6-1 wins and a 6-2 victory as the first four singles matches got underway.
Lidia Dukic, at No. 2, and Catherine Orfanos, at No. 3, maintained that momentum and won in straight sets to put Montana up 2-1.
"That's how we can play," said Ascher. "I just don't think they know that for whatever reason. They just need some confidence and to create some belief in themselves."
Hannah Sulz lost in three sets at No. 1, which evened the match at 2-2, but Nathalie Joanlanne, the team's hottest player with three straight singles wins, won 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 to put Montana back on top, 3-2.
That put the match in the hands of Ana Carbo at No. 5 and Kincaid at No. 6, the day's final two matches.
"In a way it felt like I had never left the court, but I had some nerves and there was some worry. Basically I had to trust myself and trust that I had the ability to play at the same level coming back," said Kincaid, who has played with Joanlanne at No. 3 doubles the last four matches.
"I've only had two full weeks of practice, and most of that has been for doubles, so I was just focused on bringing energy on every point."
Kincaid, who plays a smooth, flowing style of tennis, which just seems to come with being left-handed, looked like she hadn't missed a beat, winning 6-1, 6-1 to clinch the win for Montana, its first since defeating Lewis-Clark State back in January and the team's first this spring against a Division I opponent.
"She's been pain-free for two or three weeks now, but I think in the back of her mind she didn't know if the pain would come back or not," said Ascher.
"We didn't want her to feel there was any pressure on her to have to come back out and play, because it's a big jump, not only for risk's sake but physically. She hasn't played a match since last spring, and that's totally different than practice."
Southern Utah claimed the match's final point, winning in straight sets at No. 5 to narrow the final margin to 4-3.
Montana will host Boise State on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. at the Peak. The Grizzlies, with upcoming road matches at Wyoming, Northern Colorado and Portland State, won't be back home for a match until hosting Weber State on Saturday, April 8.
Montana 4, Southern Utah 3
March 11, 2017 at Missoula, Mont.
(Peak Racquet Club)
Singles competition
1. Evgenia Marushko (SUU) def. Hannah Sulz (UM) 1-6, 6-0, 6-2
2. Lidia Dukic (UM) def. Mikala Lowrance (SUU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Catherine Orfanos (UM) def. Teresa de Enrique Schmidt (SUU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) def. Cloe Stocking (SUU), 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
5. Charity Sagiao (SUU) def. Ana Carbo (UM) 6-3, 6-4
6. Cam Kincaid (UM) def. Laura Martin Lozano (SUU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Catherine Orfanos/Hannah Sulz (UM) vs. Teresa de Enrique Schmidt/Mikala Lowrance, 4-3 unfinished
2. Laura Martin Lozano/Evgenia Marushko (SUU) def. Lidia Dukic/Milica Panic (UM) 6-3
3. Charity Sagiao/Cloe Stocking (SUU) def. Nathalie Joanlanne/Cam Kincaid (UM) 6-3
Match notes:
Southern Utah: 1-11, 0-6 BSC
Montana: 2-11, 1-3 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,3,1,4,6,5)
First she sat out for the team's entire fall tournament schedule while seeking a solution that might allow her to return to the court.
Then she missed the first nine matches of the team's spring dual season, an interminable purgatory for someone who won 34 singles matches and 36 times in doubles as a freshman and sophomore.
After Friday afternoon's 6-1 loss to Idaho State at the Peak Racquet Club, the Grizzlies' 10th consecutive loss, Kincaid had finally had enough of life as a spectator.
"Maybe it was seeing the team lose yesterday, but whatever it was, she came to me and said she wanted to play," said coach Steve Ascher. "That's what I'd been waiting to hear."
Despite losing the doubles point, Montana claimed four of six singles matches, with Kincaid winning 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6, to defeat Southern Utah 4-3 on Saturday at the Peak.
Kincaid's victory gave the Grizzlies a 4-2 lead and locked up the win. It was the first victory for Montana at No. 5 or 6 singles in 12 matches this spring against Division I competition.
"I was happy to take some pressure off the lineup, because they've had a lot of pressure at the top," said Kincaid. "It was nice to help them out."
Montana (2-11, 1-3 BSC) looked like it was on its way to its 11th straight loss after the Grizzlies opened the match with a listless showing in doubles.
Southern Utah (1-11, 0-6 BSC), which was also seeking its first Big Sky Conference win of the season, rolled to 6-3 wins at both No. 2 and 3 to grab the early advantage.
"After doubles it felt like if we didn't change something, we were just going to continue down the same path. We talked between doubles and singles about trying to get their heads right," said Ascher.
Whatever was said worked. Montana raced out to three 6-1 wins and a 6-2 victory as the first four singles matches got underway.
Lidia Dukic, at No. 2, and Catherine Orfanos, at No. 3, maintained that momentum and won in straight sets to put Montana up 2-1.
"That's how we can play," said Ascher. "I just don't think they know that for whatever reason. They just need some confidence and to create some belief in themselves."
Hannah Sulz lost in three sets at No. 1, which evened the match at 2-2, but Nathalie Joanlanne, the team's hottest player with three straight singles wins, won 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 to put Montana back on top, 3-2.
That put the match in the hands of Ana Carbo at No. 5 and Kincaid at No. 6, the day's final two matches.
"In a way it felt like I had never left the court, but I had some nerves and there was some worry. Basically I had to trust myself and trust that I had the ability to play at the same level coming back," said Kincaid, who has played with Joanlanne at No. 3 doubles the last four matches.
"I've only had two full weeks of practice, and most of that has been for doubles, so I was just focused on bringing energy on every point."
Kincaid, who plays a smooth, flowing style of tennis, which just seems to come with being left-handed, looked like she hadn't missed a beat, winning 6-1, 6-1 to clinch the win for Montana, its first since defeating Lewis-Clark State back in January and the team's first this spring against a Division I opponent.
"She's been pain-free for two or three weeks now, but I think in the back of her mind she didn't know if the pain would come back or not," said Ascher.
"We didn't want her to feel there was any pressure on her to have to come back out and play, because it's a big jump, not only for risk's sake but physically. She hasn't played a match since last spring, and that's totally different than practice."
Southern Utah claimed the match's final point, winning in straight sets at No. 5 to narrow the final margin to 4-3.
Montana will host Boise State on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. at the Peak. The Grizzlies, with upcoming road matches at Wyoming, Northern Colorado and Portland State, won't be back home for a match until hosting Weber State on Saturday, April 8.
Montana 4, Southern Utah 3
March 11, 2017 at Missoula, Mont.
(Peak Racquet Club)
Singles competition
1. Evgenia Marushko (SUU) def. Hannah Sulz (UM) 1-6, 6-0, 6-2
2. Lidia Dukic (UM) def. Mikala Lowrance (SUU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Catherine Orfanos (UM) def. Teresa de Enrique Schmidt (SUU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Nathalie Joanlanne (UM) def. Cloe Stocking (SUU), 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
5. Charity Sagiao (SUU) def. Ana Carbo (UM) 6-3, 6-4
6. Cam Kincaid (UM) def. Laura Martin Lozano (SUU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Catherine Orfanos/Hannah Sulz (UM) vs. Teresa de Enrique Schmidt/Mikala Lowrance, 4-3 unfinished
2. Laura Martin Lozano/Evgenia Marushko (SUU) def. Lidia Dukic/Milica Panic (UM) 6-3
3. Charity Sagiao/Cloe Stocking (SUU) def. Nathalie Joanlanne/Cam Kincaid (UM) 6-3
Match notes:
Southern Utah: 1-11, 0-6 BSC
Montana: 2-11, 1-3 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,3,1,4,6,5)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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