Friday, September 20
Pocatello, Idaho
All Day
Montana
at
Idaho State Invitational
Women’s tennis opens fall season at Idaho State Invite
9/19/2019 12:40:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Montana women's tennis team will hit the courts for the first time in the fall tournament season this weekend, heading south to play in the Idaho State Invitational, set for Sept. 20-22 in Pocatello.
The regional tourney will pit the Griz against some familiar foes, with Utah State and Boise State joining from the Mountain West Conference, and Big Sky rivals Idaho State and Weber State rounding out the field.
With two singles draws and one doubles draw, the five-team tourney will give the Grizzlies plenty of tennis early in the fall season. The reps will be nothing but beneficial for Montana as well, with freshmen Maria Goheen and Olivia Oosterbaan set to see their first action in maroon and silver, and three of the other four UM reps entering their sophomore seasons.
Junior Bianca Bostrom will lead the Grizzlies down to Pocatello as one of the team's two upperclassmen, with sophomores Lauren Dunlap, Claudia Reguant, and Alex Walker completing the Montana lineup.
Since arriving on campus in late August, the Griz have been chomping at the bit to take the court, show what the young group is capable of, and get back in the competitive mode.
"We just want to get a taste because the rest of the tournaments this fall are going to be really hard. Washington State is good, the ITA is always tough, and San Diego State will be good. So, this is their chance to shake the rust off against teams we're familiar with," says head coach Steve Ascher.
"We've been doing over 15 hours of individual sessions a week. We're changing things, and they're getting it. It's been super fun."
But for Ascher, the most significant improvement so far this fall isn't the outward piece – the "bigger, faster, stronger" improvements. It's been the mental improvement of the squad that has him looking for big things.
"We're starting to see nerves for the first time this season. So now we're turning that into the right mindset, and that's big," Ascher added.
"Of course, the goal is to win, but you have to be hungry and put yourself in a position where you can think clearly because it's 30-all, and your opponent has a weak forehand, so the return needs to go to that side. That kind of thinking."
The Idaho State Invite starts on Friday at noon, with forecast rain expected to move the doubles action indoors to Reed Gym. Weather permitting, the singles action will move outside to Cappel Park, just up the road from ISU in Chubbuck, Idaho, with an expected 9 a.m. start time on Saturday and Sunday.
After this week's tourney at ISU, the Griz will head to the Palouse for a step-up in competition at the Washington State Invitational. They'll then face the region's best at ITA Mountain Regional in Las Vegas Oct. 23-27 before capping the fall season in California at the San Diego State Invitational, Nov. 8-10.
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Registration is still open for Grizzly Tennis' inaugural "Bike the Bitterroot Family Fun Ride" fundraiser bike ride, set for Sept. 28.
The "Bike the Bitterroot Fun Ride" is a 10-mile round-trip spin along the beautiful Bitterroot River, starting at the Grizzlies' home courts at the PEAK Athletic Club on Blue Mountain Road and following the river to Lolo before returning to the PEAK.
To register for the race or receive more information, visit gogriz.com/bikethebitterroot
The regional tourney will pit the Griz against some familiar foes, with Utah State and Boise State joining from the Mountain West Conference, and Big Sky rivals Idaho State and Weber State rounding out the field.
With two singles draws and one doubles draw, the five-team tourney will give the Grizzlies plenty of tennis early in the fall season. The reps will be nothing but beneficial for Montana as well, with freshmen Maria Goheen and Olivia Oosterbaan set to see their first action in maroon and silver, and three of the other four UM reps entering their sophomore seasons.
Junior Bianca Bostrom will lead the Grizzlies down to Pocatello as one of the team's two upperclassmen, with sophomores Lauren Dunlap, Claudia Reguant, and Alex Walker completing the Montana lineup.
Since arriving on campus in late August, the Griz have been chomping at the bit to take the court, show what the young group is capable of, and get back in the competitive mode.
"We just want to get a taste because the rest of the tournaments this fall are going to be really hard. Washington State is good, the ITA is always tough, and San Diego State will be good. So, this is their chance to shake the rust off against teams we're familiar with," says head coach Steve Ascher.
"We've been doing over 15 hours of individual sessions a week. We're changing things, and they're getting it. It's been super fun."
But for Ascher, the most significant improvement so far this fall isn't the outward piece – the "bigger, faster, stronger" improvements. It's been the mental improvement of the squad that has him looking for big things.
"We're starting to see nerves for the first time this season. So now we're turning that into the right mindset, and that's big," Ascher added.
"Of course, the goal is to win, but you have to be hungry and put yourself in a position where you can think clearly because it's 30-all, and your opponent has a weak forehand, so the return needs to go to that side. That kind of thinking."
The Idaho State Invite starts on Friday at noon, with forecast rain expected to move the doubles action indoors to Reed Gym. Weather permitting, the singles action will move outside to Cappel Park, just up the road from ISU in Chubbuck, Idaho, with an expected 9 a.m. start time on Saturday and Sunday.
After this week's tourney at ISU, the Griz will head to the Palouse for a step-up in competition at the Washington State Invitational. They'll then face the region's best at ITA Mountain Regional in Las Vegas Oct. 23-27 before capping the fall season in California at the San Diego State Invitational, Nov. 8-10.
###
Registration is still open for Grizzly Tennis' inaugural "Bike the Bitterroot Family Fun Ride" fundraiser bike ride, set for Sept. 28.
The "Bike the Bitterroot Fun Ride" is a 10-mile round-trip spin along the beautiful Bitterroot River, starting at the Grizzlies' home courts at the PEAK Athletic Club on Blue Mountain Road and following the river to Lolo before returning to the PEAK.
To register for the race or receive more information, visit gogriz.com/bikethebitterroot
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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