Friday, January 18
Missoula, Mont.
9:30 AM
Montana
vs
Washington State
Pac-12 and Big Ten teams in Missoula to open women’s tennis season
1/17/2019 4:45:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Montana women's tennis team embarks on the most difficult schedule in program history this weekend, hosting the Pac-12's Washington State Cougars and the Big Ten's Michigan State Spartans in a rare trip to Missoula for teams from power five conferences.
The first serves of UM's season go up Friday, Jan. 18, in a doubleheader against the Cougars, who come to the Garden City for a second-straight season, boasting one of the nation's top players in Michaela Bayerlova, ranked this week at No. 83 in the country.
Montana then rounds out the weekend in a one-off dual with the Spartans on Sunday, Jan. 20, kicking off a schedule with eight matches for the Griz against teams from the power five or group of five schools, four teams from last year's NCAA tournament and eight programs who finished in the top half of their respective conferences.
While in Missoula, Washington State and Michigan State will also square off against one another on Sunday, providing much needed early season reps for all three squads.
THE DETAILS: The doubleheader against the Cougars starts Friday at 9:30 a.m., with the second match starting at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Spartans and Cougars get going at 10 a.m., followed by the Montana/Michigan State dual at 3 p.m.
All matches will be played indoors at the PEAK Racquet Club south of Missoula. Live stats for all the Montana matches will be available at GrizStats.com, and fans can get live updates on Twitter at @MontanaGrizTEN.
Each fan in attendance for Sunday's dual against Michigan State will also get a free Griz tennis t-shirt for coming out to cheer on the team.
BACK EARLIER THAN EVER: Thanks to the University of Montana's new academic calendar, the Grizzlies are kicking off the spring duals season earlier than ever, with two weeks shaved off the winter break.
Since returning to campus on Jan. 10, the Grizzlies have hit the ground running in preparation for the grueling 2019 season.
"We've had really good energy at practice. Everyone put in a lot of work over the break, so I feel like we're a little ahead of schedule right now. I'm excited," said head coach Steve Ascher, now entering his eleventh season at UM.
"It's been really nice coming back a little earlier and being able to put some work in before. The team feels super comfortable too, and the chemistry is really good."
Montana will face the nonconference season gauntlet with a mostly young squad, with six underclassmen led by seniors Nathalie Joanlanne and Lidia Dukic. So far, the seniors like what they have seen from their young teammates.
"Everyone has come out really strong. It looks like people put in work over the break, which is really cool. I can tell everyone is excited for the season," said Joanlanne.
Dukic echoed the same sentiment. "I really think we're playing well. I've been super impressed with how the team is playing."
STARTING OFF RIGHT: Seeking the program's first return to the Big Sky tournament since 2015 while at the same time staring down a brutal nonconference schedule, the Grizzlies know the importance of starting the season off on the front foot.
They also know they have a chance to make an early statement while keeping an eye on the long view.
"Getting that experience against good players will definitely help us, so when conference play comes around, we'll be ready to attack. And I think the mental piece – getting through tough matches these first few weeks - will really help us in the long run," said Joanlanne.
Dukik is also embracing the challenge ahead in her senior season. "They're not going to give us any easy chances. We're going to have to challenge ourselves and work hard to build those points, which will help us going into conference play," she said.
From the coach's seat, Ascher sees this weekend as an opportunity to find out what it will take to compete week-in, and week-out with some of the best teams in the nation.
"We need to learn from every single match. We need to understand what it's going to take physically, mentally, technically, tactically, all these things. Finding out what intensity we need to play the game at," he says.
"Right from the gate, we need to know where the mindset should be, calm the nerves, and help them prepare so they can go out there and give their best performance on the court."
SENIOR LEADERS: With plenty of youth, Montana will lean on the leadership of Dukic and Joanlanne to return the program to the Big Sky tourney, a place neither of them has been. Getting there is a major focus of the team's goals this season, and Ascher knows that if the seniors succeed, team success is not far behind.
"I want them to get the opportunity to pick up a signature win. To leave school and have a couple of signature wins under your belt against FBS schools, those are special, and they're not handed out," said Ascher. "Knowing they've put the work in, I hope they can go get one."
For Dukic, her last few opportunities to play in maroon and silver might be even more special having worked her way back to a clean bill of health following an injury-riddled junior year. Now that the countdown has begun to her final days at UM, the one-time top of the lineup player is embracing the chance.
"I'm super excited. It's definitely a different feeling this semester. I felt this way in the fall, but it's really hit me now," said Dukic. "I'm just enjoying it, having fun, bringing my tennis along, and looking forward to succeeding with the team."
Her coach of the last four years has taken notice of her progression leading into the season too.
"She's getting back, and feeling confident in herself physically, so I expect some big things from her. I feel like she's healthy, her mind is fresh, she's excited and ready to roll," said Ascher.
SOPHOMORE STARS: The bulk of Montana's success last season came from a pair of freshmen who each ended up with All-Conference honors, and will be leaned on once again at the top of the lineup.
Athletes develop significantly from one season to the next, but for Ascher, none as much as Bianca Bostrom, who was part of a second-team all-conference doubles team last year with Cam Kincaid.
"Her development has taken off. She'll do the work on her own and put in the hours. She's a calm competitor and internally driven, and always trying to figure out the next step because she wants to get better," said Ascher. "It's rare you see kids develop that fast."
In the fall she proved just how far her game has come since arriving at UM, winning the White singles draw at Gonzaga's fall invitational – the first tourney title of her career.
Julia Ronney is UM's other sophomore standout and returning No. 1 player in last year's singles lineup. She enjoyed success from the get-go at UM, winning a pair of fall tourneys as a freshman, and, according to Ascher, has adjusted to the pace of the college game at the top of the lineup.
"Playing at the number one position as a freshman is rare, and now she has that body of experience, and she's done a good job of preparing herself physically," said Ascher. "She had some really good wins this fall, and I've seen lots of improvement."
Getting their first taste of college duals this weekend will be UM freshmen Lauren Dunlap and Claudia Reguant.
Dunlap, from the tennis stronghold of Florida, picked up six singles wins and four doubles wins in the fall, proving she can perform at the college level. Reguant, a Spaniard, has also shown flashes of brilliance. The question remains, how will they adapt to the pressure of a college dual?
"This is kind of the inauguration for them. The fall has its stressors, but now you're playing matches where you have to get four points to get a team win. It's a different beast," said Ascher. "So, we're looking at that and trying to get them assimilated as quickly as possible against tough teams."
No matter what the age or academic class, Ascher sums it all up with one key attribute he'll be keeping an eye on this week as UM embarks on what promises to be a memorable season.
"It comes down to the level of effort you put in," he said.
So far, the Griz have shown they are up for putting it all in.
The first serves of UM's season go up Friday, Jan. 18, in a doubleheader against the Cougars, who come to the Garden City for a second-straight season, boasting one of the nation's top players in Michaela Bayerlova, ranked this week at No. 83 in the country.
Montana then rounds out the weekend in a one-off dual with the Spartans on Sunday, Jan. 20, kicking off a schedule with eight matches for the Griz against teams from the power five or group of five schools, four teams from last year's NCAA tournament and eight programs who finished in the top half of their respective conferences.
While in Missoula, Washington State and Michigan State will also square off against one another on Sunday, providing much needed early season reps for all three squads.
THE DETAILS: The doubleheader against the Cougars starts Friday at 9:30 a.m., with the second match starting at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, the Spartans and Cougars get going at 10 a.m., followed by the Montana/Michigan State dual at 3 p.m.
All matches will be played indoors at the PEAK Racquet Club south of Missoula. Live stats for all the Montana matches will be available at GrizStats.com, and fans can get live updates on Twitter at @MontanaGrizTEN.
Each fan in attendance for Sunday's dual against Michigan State will also get a free Griz tennis t-shirt for coming out to cheer on the team.
BACK EARLIER THAN EVER: Thanks to the University of Montana's new academic calendar, the Grizzlies are kicking off the spring duals season earlier than ever, with two weeks shaved off the winter break.
Since returning to campus on Jan. 10, the Grizzlies have hit the ground running in preparation for the grueling 2019 season.
"We've had really good energy at practice. Everyone put in a lot of work over the break, so I feel like we're a little ahead of schedule right now. I'm excited," said head coach Steve Ascher, now entering his eleventh season at UM.
"It's been really nice coming back a little earlier and being able to put some work in before. The team feels super comfortable too, and the chemistry is really good."
Montana will face the nonconference season gauntlet with a mostly young squad, with six underclassmen led by seniors Nathalie Joanlanne and Lidia Dukic. So far, the seniors like what they have seen from their young teammates.
"Everyone has come out really strong. It looks like people put in work over the break, which is really cool. I can tell everyone is excited for the season," said Joanlanne.
Dukic echoed the same sentiment. "I really think we're playing well. I've been super impressed with how the team is playing."
STARTING OFF RIGHT: Seeking the program's first return to the Big Sky tournament since 2015 while at the same time staring down a brutal nonconference schedule, the Grizzlies know the importance of starting the season off on the front foot.
They also know they have a chance to make an early statement while keeping an eye on the long view.
"Getting that experience against good players will definitely help us, so when conference play comes around, we'll be ready to attack. And I think the mental piece – getting through tough matches these first few weeks - will really help us in the long run," said Joanlanne.
Dukik is also embracing the challenge ahead in her senior season. "They're not going to give us any easy chances. We're going to have to challenge ourselves and work hard to build those points, which will help us going into conference play," she said.
From the coach's seat, Ascher sees this weekend as an opportunity to find out what it will take to compete week-in, and week-out with some of the best teams in the nation.
"We need to learn from every single match. We need to understand what it's going to take physically, mentally, technically, tactically, all these things. Finding out what intensity we need to play the game at," he says.
"Right from the gate, we need to know where the mindset should be, calm the nerves, and help them prepare so they can go out there and give their best performance on the court."
SENIOR LEADERS: With plenty of youth, Montana will lean on the leadership of Dukic and Joanlanne to return the program to the Big Sky tourney, a place neither of them has been. Getting there is a major focus of the team's goals this season, and Ascher knows that if the seniors succeed, team success is not far behind.
"I want them to get the opportunity to pick up a signature win. To leave school and have a couple of signature wins under your belt against FBS schools, those are special, and they're not handed out," said Ascher. "Knowing they've put the work in, I hope they can go get one."
For Dukic, her last few opportunities to play in maroon and silver might be even more special having worked her way back to a clean bill of health following an injury-riddled junior year. Now that the countdown has begun to her final days at UM, the one-time top of the lineup player is embracing the chance.
"I'm super excited. It's definitely a different feeling this semester. I felt this way in the fall, but it's really hit me now," said Dukic. "I'm just enjoying it, having fun, bringing my tennis along, and looking forward to succeeding with the team."
Her coach of the last four years has taken notice of her progression leading into the season too.
"She's getting back, and feeling confident in herself physically, so I expect some big things from her. I feel like she's healthy, her mind is fresh, she's excited and ready to roll," said Ascher.
SOPHOMORE STARS: The bulk of Montana's success last season came from a pair of freshmen who each ended up with All-Conference honors, and will be leaned on once again at the top of the lineup.
Athletes develop significantly from one season to the next, but for Ascher, none as much as Bianca Bostrom, who was part of a second-team all-conference doubles team last year with Cam Kincaid.
"Her development has taken off. She'll do the work on her own and put in the hours. She's a calm competitor and internally driven, and always trying to figure out the next step because she wants to get better," said Ascher. "It's rare you see kids develop that fast."
In the fall she proved just how far her game has come since arriving at UM, winning the White singles draw at Gonzaga's fall invitational – the first tourney title of her career.
Julia Ronney is UM's other sophomore standout and returning No. 1 player in last year's singles lineup. She enjoyed success from the get-go at UM, winning a pair of fall tourneys as a freshman, and, according to Ascher, has adjusted to the pace of the college game at the top of the lineup.
"Playing at the number one position as a freshman is rare, and now she has that body of experience, and she's done a good job of preparing herself physically," said Ascher. "She had some really good wins this fall, and I've seen lots of improvement."
Getting their first taste of college duals this weekend will be UM freshmen Lauren Dunlap and Claudia Reguant.
Dunlap, from the tennis stronghold of Florida, picked up six singles wins and four doubles wins in the fall, proving she can perform at the college level. Reguant, a Spaniard, has also shown flashes of brilliance. The question remains, how will they adapt to the pressure of a college dual?
"This is kind of the inauguration for them. The fall has its stressors, but now you're playing matches where you have to get four points to get a team win. It's a different beast," said Ascher. "So, we're looking at that and trying to get them assimilated as quickly as possible against tough teams."
No matter what the age or academic class, Ascher sums it all up with one key attribute he'll be keeping an eye on this week as UM embarks on what promises to be a memorable season.
"It comes down to the level of effort you put in," he said.
So far, the Griz have shown they are up for putting it all in.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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