Griz set to embrace history at the Black Knight Invite

The Montana women's tennis team will get the opportunity of a lifetime this weekend, and one Grizzly will simply get a warm welcome home as UM travels to the hallowed grounds of the United States Military Academy to participate in the Black Knight Invite.

The Grizzlies join a field of 20 teams at the Malek Outdoor Tennis Center Sept. 28-30 in West Point, New York, crossing the country to play on one of Americas' most historic campuses, while taking senior Nathalie Joanlanne back home to play in front of friends and family.

Joanlanne, who hails from Dallas, Pa. (just two hours east), and has extended family just across the Hudson River in Westchester County, will get to play for her supporters for the first time since moving west for college, and couldn't be more excited.

"Having the opportunity to play so close to home was something I didn't think I'd be able to do in college, so it means a lot," she said.

"I have a lot of people coming to see me, which is really cool because they haven't seen me play since high school. It definitely means a lot, and I'm super thankful that we're able to get out there."

While "back east," the Grizzlies will also get the chance to take in the sights of the Big Apple, but with a strong field of participating teams, tennis remains the first and foremost task at hand. Luckily for the Grizzlies, Joanlanne may be more prepared than most.

"There are some really good schools there, and a lot of familiar faces I'll see from juniors and some friends, so I kind of know a little bit about these teams," Joanlanne added. "I think we're definitely ready for it and I think we'll find success this weekend."

Montana will face some of its toughest competition of the season at West Point, starting the with defending Patriot League champion Black Knights.

Also set to play at West Point are the Bobcats… but not those Bobcats. The defending five-time MAAC champion Quinnipiac Bobcats will pose a challenge for UM, as will 2018 ACC quarterfinalist Syracuse, and the Columbia Lions, who finished third in the Ivy League last season.

After nearly a month of preparation and a warmup tournament at Weber State, head coach Steve Ascher believes his team is ready for the challenge.

"Practices have been good, the intensity has been good, they've been doing a great job in the weight room, and they get it. They want to put the work in and invest, and they seem to be enjoying the process of getting better," Said Ascher.

"We're going to be a deeper team this year. All these matches will be helpful in figuring out where we're going to be starting this spring, and what we need to do to prepare for conference season."

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When you set foot on the USMA campus in West Point, there's an overwhelming sense of history to the place. It is, after all, the oldest continuously operating Army post in the United States, and, thanks to its advantageous location on the banks of the Hudson River, a key stronghold for the Americans in the Revolutionary War.

Joanlanne knows all about it. She learned all about the Academy's history as a visitor to West point on a seventh-grade field trip.

"Everywhere you go on campus is like a history lesson. There are little plaques everywhere, so it will be really cool for us to learn about that, especially with such a beautiful landscape," added Joanlanne.

While the level of tennis can do nothing but improve Ascher's team, he too sees the value in surrounding them with history while at the same time competing against some of the best.

That's why, when the opportunity to play at the Black Knight Invite came about, Ascher immediately began fundraising for a cross-country trip that is well outside of UM's general competitive footprint.

"The donors are just as excited as we are about giving these kids this experience," said Ascher. "That's what college is all about. It's about going other places and seeing other cultures. I mean, New York City is where people come to America, so we're just extremely grateful."

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MORE HISTORY: Even though there are other teams in attendance, Montana versus Army is a once-in-a-generation matchup.

The only known meeting between the two programs - in any sport - occurred in 1984, when the UM and USMA football teams met in the Mirage Bowl at the national stadium in Tokyo, Japan, an event facilitated by Montana senator and ambassador to Japan, Mike Mansfield.

Black Knight Invite Teams (20): Army West Point, Binghamton, Bryant, Colgate, Columbia, Connecticut, Fairfield, Fordham, Lehigh, Marist, Montana, NJIT, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, St. Bonaventure, St. Francis, St. John's, Stony Brook, Syracuse, and Valparaiso.

Griz set to embrace history at the Black Knight Invite

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Players Mentioned

Nathalie Joanlanne

University of Montana Athletics