Vandals come back to beat Griz 4-3

Friday, April 16

Missoula, Mont.

1 PM

Montana

Idaho

Photo by: Derek Johnson

4/16/2021 9:57:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's tennis team built an early 3-1 lead over Idaho but couldn't hang on for the win, losing 4-3 in a Big Sky Conference match at the PEAK Racquet Club in Missoula on Friday afternoon.

This loss drops Montana's record to 6-5 overall and 1-2 in Big Sky play on the year and narrows the Grizzlies' postseason prospects. Idaho's picks up its first conference win and improves 3-7 and 1-3 in Big Sky play.

"It came down to the wire today. The team came out strong in the doubles to sweep and get the point. We had three three-setters, and we didn't pull any of them out," said head coach Steve Ascher

"If it's going to be close, we have to find a way to win. These are the ones we have to learn from, we knew the implications coming in, and we have got to find a way to rise when the pressure is on."

Montana started hot early, taking a 1-0 advantage after sweeping the doubles round, 3-0.

On court two, juniors Lauran Dunlap and Alex Walker were the first to finish with a 6-3 win over Idaho's Chen/Jhang pair.

On court three, Montana's Maria Goheen and Ivayla Mitkova clinched the doubles point by picking up a solid 6-2 win over Idaho's Magalhaes/Dowse Duo.

For Julia Ronney and her partner Olvia Oosterbaan, it wasn't as easy. Idahos Spataro/Huchet duo didn't go down without a fight when trailing 5-2, keeping things close and coming back to even the game at 5-5.

But in the end, Ronney and Oosterbaan took the game 7-5. This is the fifth time the Griz have scored the opening point this season.

In singles, Goheen got things started for UM by winning the Grizzlies' first singles point of the day on court four, defeating Idaho's Maggie Chen in straight-sets 6-3, 6-2, to put UM up 2-0.

Rooney, UM's lone senior, extended the Grizzly lead to 3-0 with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Melissa Huchet.

Idaho was able to get on the scoreboard after Laura Spataro defeated Olivia Oosterbaan in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) to make it a 3-1 team lead for Montana.

With three matches left, Montana only needed to win one of them to clinch the win.

Idaho started its comeback when Katherine Jhang held off Dunlap 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 in a close match to score a second point for the Vandals and cut the Grizzly lead to 3-2.

The match on court five came down to the wire as well. Idaho's Marta Magalhaes took Mitkova down in three very close sets of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to tie the team score 3-3, with one match remaining.

On court six, Walker and Idaho's Saffron Dowse were the last remaining match of the day. With a winner-take-all scenario, it was a long, hardworking, back and forth match. Walker breezed through the first set 6-0, but couldn't hang on in three sets, with Dowse walking away victorious 0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, and Idaho winning the overall match 4-3.

"You have to handle the winning and the losing and that's what makes you a champion, it's to figure out the angles of It all and grow from each side," said Ascher.

Montana women's tennis finishes the regular season on Sunday when it takes on Eastern Washington at 1:30 at the Peak.

Idaho vs Montana
4/16/2021 at Missoula, Mont.
(Peak Racquet Club)

Idaho 4, Montana 3

Singles competition
1. RONNEY, Julia (UM) def. Melissa Huchet (IDAHO) 6-3, 6-4
2. Laura Spataro (IDAHO) def. OOSTERBAAN, Olivia (UM) 6-4, 6-4
3. Katherine Jhang (IDAHO) def. DUNLAP, Lauren (UM) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
4. GOHEEN, Maria (UM) def. Maggie Chen (IDAHO) 6-3, 6-2
5. Marta Magalhaes (IDAHO) def. MITKOVA, Ivayla (UM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
6. Saffron Dowse (IDAHO) def. WALKER, Alex (UM) 0-6, 7-6 (5-7), 6-4

Doubles competition
1. RONNEY, Julia/OOSTERBAAN, Olivia (UM) def. Laura Spataro/Melissa Huchet (IDAHO) 7-5
2. DUNLAP, Lauren/WALKER, Alex (UM) def. Maggie Chen/Katherine Jhang (IDAHO) 6-3
3. GOHEEN, Maria/MITKOVA, Ivayla (UM) def. Marta Magalhaes/Saffron Dowse (IDAHO) 6-3

Match Notes:
Idaho 3-7, 1-2 BSC
Montana 6-5, 1-2 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,1,2,3,5,6)
Official: Delman/Schwartz T-5:48