Ronney claims championship at ITA Fall Circuit tourney

They may not have officially competed as Grizzlies, but three Montana women's tennis team members returned to play over the weekend, with each picking up promising results against the region's top-32 UTR-rated players.

UM senior Julia Ronney highlighted the weekend, picking up the second fall tournament championship of her career with a run through the main bracket of the UTR 2020 ITA Fall Circuit tournament in Salt Lake City.

Sponsored by Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), the ITA Fall Circuit tourney was an opportunity for the highest-rated college players from the Mountain region to compete as individuals in a neutral setting at the Sports Mall Hall in Utah's capital city, with organizers adhering to safe play guidelines.

Representing the Grizzlies were Ronney, sophomore Olivia Oosterbaan, and freshman Ivalya Mitkova, amongst a field of top-ranked players from Utah, Utah State, Weber State, and other regional schools in a draw of 32.

To reach the championship, Ronney ground out four wins - three of which went to a tiebreaker – with two coming from opponents from Utah State, and one coming over BYU.

The Grizzly senior hung on to defeat Utah State junior Annaliese County in a 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 (3) breaker hanging on to win after a second-set loss in the opening round. She then advanced to beat Weber State's Yunna Ukita in straight sets (7-6, 6-3), before grinding out another win in the Quarterfinal over BYU's Emilee Astle (6-1, 1-6, 1-0 (7)).

After receiving a bye in the semifinal due to a University of Utah player withdrawing, Ronney then advanced on to the final to face Utah State's Carolina Millan, where she worked her way to another tiebreaker win, this time coming from behind 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (2).

In her first action as a college player, Mitkova also forced a tiebreaker in her first-round match but would end up falling to Utah State's Miller, who would eventually advance onto the championship to face Ronney 1-6, 6-1, 1-0. Mitkova would earn her first collegiate win in the consolation draw, beating Avery Hopkey of Boise 6-7, 7-6, 1-0.

After a strong freshman season, Oosterbaan also picked up her first win of the year in the consolation draw, beating Utah State's Renata Lombere 6-2, 6-1 after falling to Weber State's Ana Morett Salas in the opening round.

Because each player registered for the tournament individually, the result will not count toward their overall record at Montana, but provided each some valuable and elusive competition in the season where official fall sports have been canceled.

University of Montana Athletics

Ronney claims championship at ITA Fall Circuit tourney

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Olivia Oosterbaan

Julia Ronney

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