
Young Griz make strides in season opener at Idaho State Invitational
9/12/2022 8:56:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Montana women's tennis team got its fall tournament season underway over the weekend with head coach Steve Ascher taking a young squad to the Idaho State Invitational in Pocatello.
Â
With three of the six traveling Grizzlies seeing their first-ever action in maroon and silver, Montana picked up early season reps against some of the region's top teams as players from Utah, Boise State, Weber State, Montana State, and Idaho State competed at Capell Park.
Â
After just two weeks of training to start the fall semester, Montana set the tone for spring duals season and picked up momentum for the fall, going 5-2 overall against Montana State in singles while picking up three wins over Utah as well.
Â
"We came quick out of the blocks this season, and getting these early reps under pressure is awesome. We got a lot of learning done and information about ourselves, so it will be fun to come back and build on that. Plus, being on the road and having three new people gave us a chance to really work on the chemistry piece. It was a super fun trip," said Ascher.
Â
"The freshmen in particular really stood out and competed extremely well, so it's a really good jumping-off point for our team."
Â
Freshman Hailey Murphy of Calgary made the deepest run for the Griz, advancing to the title match of the Black singles draw with wins over Maria Villarajo of MSU (6-2, 6-2), Ya Chi Hsu of Utah (6-2, 6-4), and Jazmin Lerman of MSU (6-3, 3-6, 6-4).
Â
Sophomore Ivayla Mitkova picked up a pair of wins in the Bengal singles draw to advance to the semifinal, defeating Raquel Roshark of Utah and Andrea Cuquerella of MSU.
Â
Montana's other true freshman Shivika Agrawal also picked up a nice win over one of Montana State's top players in Mirte Van Baelen (6-3, 6-4)Â in the consolation bracket of the Orange singles draw.
Â
The Grizzlies now prepare to compete at Boise State's Barb Chandler Classic Sept. 23-25 in Boise.
COMPLETE RESULTS
Doubles A Draw
Baptista/Discenza (BSU) 8-2 over Lolofie/Semenick (Weber State)
Lola and Sol O'Lideadha 8-2 over Mitkova/Agrawal (UM)
Roboredo/Van Balen (Montana State) 8-6 over Morett/Davies (Weber State)
Heffernan/Conde Vendrell (BSU) 8-4 over Cho/Lang-Gould
Winners Bracket
Baptista/Discenza (BSU) 8-6 over Lola and Sol O'Lideadha
Roboredo/Van Balen (MSU) 8-5 over Herffernan/Conde Vendrell (BSU)
Championship
Baptista/Discenza 8-6 over Roboredo/Van Balen
Consolation bracket
Lolofie/Semenick (WSU) 8-4 over Mitkova/Agrawl (UM)
Morett/Davies (WSU) 8-5 over Cho/Lang-Gould (ISU)
Consolation Final
Morett/Davies (WSU) 8-4 over Lolofie/Semenick (WSU)
Doubles B Draw
Kershner/Shah (BSU) Bye
Lerman/Cuquerella (MSU) 8-6 over Mellor/Lundberg (UT)
Sterk/Murphy (UM) 8-6 over Hill/Ferreira (WSU)
Kuruvilla/Mikkelson 8-5 over Hsu/Venkatakrishnan (UT)
Winners Bracket
Kershner/Shah (BSU) 8-3 over Lerman/Cuquerella (MSU)
Kuruvilla/Mikkelson 8-3 over Sterk/Murphy (UM)
Championship
Kershner/Shah (BSU) 8-5 over Kuruvilla/Mikkelson
Consolation Bracket
Mellor/Lundberg (UT) Bye
Hill/Ferreira (WSU) 9-7 (7-2) over Hsu/Venkatakrishnan (UT)
Consolation Final
Mellor/Lundberg (UT) 8-4 over Hill/Ferreira (WSU)
Doubles C Draw
Lombardi/Yangpingan (WSU) Bye
Hiliata/Cabanas (UM) 8-5 over Damron/Sterk (UT)
Shalakova/Jayasputra (ISU/MSU) 8-6 over Roshark/Dorny (UT)
Chen/Villarago (MSU) 8-3 over Amelkina/Oyama (UT)
Winners Bracket
Lombardi/Yangpingan (WSU) 8-3 over Hiliata/Cabanas (UM)
Shalakova/Jayasputra (ISU/MSU) 8-5 over Chen/Villarago (MSU)
Championship
Lombardi/Yangpingan (WSU) 8-0 over Shalakova/Jayasputra (ISU/MSU)
Consolation Bracket
Damron/Sterk (UT) Bye
Amelkina/Oyama (UT) 8-3 over Roshark/Dorny (UT)
Consolation Final
Damron/Sterk (UT) 8-3 over Amelkina/Oyama (UT)
Singles Bengal Draw
Jessica Hill (WSU) Bye
JJ Chen (MSU) 6-1, 6-2 over Alysha Damron (UT)
Olivia Mikkelson (ISU) 6-0, 6-1 over Cami Oyama (UT)
Rosie Sterk (UM) 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 (7-3) over Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU)
Stefanya Shalakova (ISU) 6-1, 6-2 over Angelina Amelkina (UT)
Li Yangpingan (WSU) 6-3, 7-5 over Jane Dorny (UT)
Ivayla Mitkova (UM) over Raquel Roshark (UT) (No score given)
Andrea Cuquerella (MSU) Bye
Winners Bracket
Jessica Hill (WSU) 6-2, 6-3 over JJ Chen (MSU)
Olivia Mikkelson (ISU) 6-2, 6-4 over Rosie Sterk (UM)
Li Yangpingan (WSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 over Stefanya Shalakova (ISU)
Ivayla Mitkova (UM) 6-3, 6-0 over Andrea Cuquerella (MSU)
Olivia Mikkelson (ISU) 6-3, 6-2 over Jessica Hill (WSU)
Li Yangpingan (WSU) over Ivayla Mitkova (UM) (No score provided)
Â
Li Yangpingan (WSU) 7-6 (4), 6-3 over Olivia Mikkelson (ISU)
Consolation Bracket
Alysha Damron (UT) Bye
Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) 6-0, 6-1 over Cami Oyama (UT)
Jane Dorny (UT) 6-3, 6-3 over Angelina Amelkina (UT)
Roshark (UT) Bye
Roshark (UT) 7-5, 6-3 over Jane Dorny (UT)
Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) 7-5, 7-5 over Alysha Damron (UT)
Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) 6-4, 6-0 over Roshark (UT)
Singles Black Draw
Ryan Kershner (BSU) Bye
Sicely Ferreira (WSU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 over Annemeik Sterk (UT)
Leah Kuruvilla (ISU)Â 6-3, 6-4 over Rachel Mellor (UT)
Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 6-3, 6-2 over Ali Hilaeta (UM)
Megan Lang-Gould (ISU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 over Nancy Cabanas (UM)
Jazmin Lerman (MSU) 6-3, 6-1 over Cirkeline Lundberg (UT)
Ya Chi Hsu (UT) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 over Shauna Heffernan (BSU)
Hailey Murphy (UM) 6-2, 6-2 over Maria Villarajo (MSU)
Sicely Ferreira (WSU) 6-0, 7-5 over Ryan Kershner (BSU)
Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 6-4, 6-1 over Leah Kuruvilla (ISU)Â
Jazmin Lerman (MSU) 6-3, 6-4 over Megan Lang-Gould (ISU)
Hailey Murphy (UM) 6-2, 6-4 over Ya Chi Hsu (UT)
Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 6-1, 6-1 over Sicely Ferreira (WSU)
Hailey Murphy (UM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 over Jazmin Lerman (MSU)
Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 over Hailey Murphy (UM)
Jazmin Lerman (MSU) 6-3, 6-4 over Sicely Ferreira (WSU) (3rd place match)
Consolation Bracket
Annemeik Sterk (UT) Bye
Rachel Mellor (UT) 6-2, 6-3 over Ali Hilaeta (UM)
Nancy Cabanas (UM) 2-0, retire over Cirkeline Lundberg (UT)
Maria Villarajo (MSU) retire over Shauna Heffernan (BSU)
Â
Rachel Mellor (UT) 6-1, 6-2 over Annemeik Sterk (UT)
Maria Villarajo (MSU) 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 over Nancy Cabanas (UM)
Rachel Mellor (UT) 6-3, 6-4 over Maria Villarajo (MSU)
Singles Orange Draw
Ana Morett (WSU) Bye
Nicole Discenza (BSU) 7-5, 6-2 over Shivika Agrawal (UM)
Bhakti Shah (BSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 over Mirte Van Baelen (MSU)
Sol O'Lideadha (ISU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Dylan Lolofie (WSU)
Joana Baptista (BSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 over Adithi Venkatarishnan (UT)
Megan Lombardi (WSU) 7-5, 6-4 over Hana Cho (ISU)
Megan Davies (WSU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 over Ana Conde Vendrell (BSU)
Lola O'Lideadha (ISU) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 over Marta Garcia Roboredo (MSU)
Nicole Discenza (BSU) 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) over Ana Morett (WSU)
Bhakti Shah (BSU) 6-3, 6-2 over Sol O'Lideadha (ISU)
Joana Baptista (BSU) 6-1, 6-3 over Megan Lombardi (WSU)
Lola O'Lideadha (ISU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 over Megan Davies (WSU)
Joana Baptista (BSU) 6-2, 6-2 over Lola O'Lideadha (ISU)
Nicole Discenza (BSU) 6-0, 6-2 over Bhakti Shah (BSU)
Joana Baptista (BSU) 6-2, 6-3 over Nicole Discenza (BSU)
Consolation Bracket
Shivika Agrawal (UM) Bye
Mirte Van Baelen (MSU)Â 6-1, 6-4 over Dylan Lolofie (WSU)
Hana Cho (ISU) 6-2, 6-0 over Adithi Venkatarishnan (UT)
Marta Garcia Roboredo (MSU) 6-2, 6-7, 10-8 over Ana Conde Vendrell (BSU)
Marta Garcia Roboredo (MSU) 6-3, 6-4 over Hana Cho (ISU)
Shivika Agrawal (UM) 6-3, 6-4 over Mirte Van Baelen (MSU)Â
Marta Garcia Roboredo (MSU) 6-4, 6-3 over Shivika Agrawal (UM)
Â
With three of the six traveling Grizzlies seeing their first-ever action in maroon and silver, Montana picked up early season reps against some of the region's top teams as players from Utah, Boise State, Weber State, Montana State, and Idaho State competed at Capell Park.
Â
After just two weeks of training to start the fall semester, Montana set the tone for spring duals season and picked up momentum for the fall, going 5-2 overall against Montana State in singles while picking up three wins over Utah as well.
Â
"We came quick out of the blocks this season, and getting these early reps under pressure is awesome. We got a lot of learning done and information about ourselves, so it will be fun to come back and build on that. Plus, being on the road and having three new people gave us a chance to really work on the chemistry piece. It was a super fun trip," said Ascher.
Â
"The freshmen in particular really stood out and competed extremely well, so it's a really good jumping-off point for our team."
Â
Freshman Hailey Murphy of Calgary made the deepest run for the Griz, advancing to the title match of the Black singles draw with wins over Maria Villarajo of MSU (6-2, 6-2), Ya Chi Hsu of Utah (6-2, 6-4), and Jazmin Lerman of MSU (6-3, 3-6, 6-4).
Â
Sophomore Ivayla Mitkova picked up a pair of wins in the Bengal singles draw to advance to the semifinal, defeating Raquel Roshark of Utah and Andrea Cuquerella of MSU.
Â
Montana's other true freshman Shivika Agrawal also picked up a nice win over one of Montana State's top players in Mirte Van Baelen (6-3, 6-4)Â in the consolation bracket of the Orange singles draw.
Â
The Grizzlies now prepare to compete at Boise State's Barb Chandler Classic Sept. 23-25 in Boise.
COMPLETE RESULTS
Doubles A Draw
Baptista/Discenza (BSU) 8-2 over Lolofie/Semenick (Weber State)
Lola and Sol O'Lideadha 8-2 over Mitkova/Agrawal (UM)
Roboredo/Van Balen (Montana State) 8-6 over Morett/Davies (Weber State)
Heffernan/Conde Vendrell (BSU) 8-4 over Cho/Lang-Gould
Winners Bracket
Baptista/Discenza (BSU) 8-6 over Lola and Sol O'Lideadha
Roboredo/Van Balen (MSU) 8-5 over Herffernan/Conde Vendrell (BSU)
Championship
Baptista/Discenza 8-6 over Roboredo/Van Balen
Consolation bracket
Lolofie/Semenick (WSU) 8-4 over Mitkova/Agrawl (UM)
Morett/Davies (WSU) 8-5 over Cho/Lang-Gould (ISU)
Consolation Final
Morett/Davies (WSU) 8-4 over Lolofie/Semenick (WSU)
Doubles B Draw
Kershner/Shah (BSU) Bye
Lerman/Cuquerella (MSU) 8-6 over Mellor/Lundberg (UT)
Sterk/Murphy (UM) 8-6 over Hill/Ferreira (WSU)
Kuruvilla/Mikkelson 8-5 over Hsu/Venkatakrishnan (UT)
Winners Bracket
Kershner/Shah (BSU) 8-3 over Lerman/Cuquerella (MSU)
Kuruvilla/Mikkelson 8-3 over Sterk/Murphy (UM)
Championship
Kershner/Shah (BSU) 8-5 over Kuruvilla/Mikkelson
Consolation Bracket
Mellor/Lundberg (UT) Bye
Hill/Ferreira (WSU) 9-7 (7-2) over Hsu/Venkatakrishnan (UT)
Consolation Final
Mellor/Lundberg (UT) 8-4 over Hill/Ferreira (WSU)
Doubles C Draw
Lombardi/Yangpingan (WSU) Bye
Hiliata/Cabanas (UM) 8-5 over Damron/Sterk (UT)
Shalakova/Jayasputra (ISU/MSU) 8-6 over Roshark/Dorny (UT)
Chen/Villarago (MSU) 8-3 over Amelkina/Oyama (UT)
Winners Bracket
Lombardi/Yangpingan (WSU) 8-3 over Hiliata/Cabanas (UM)
Shalakova/Jayasputra (ISU/MSU) 8-5 over Chen/Villarago (MSU)
Championship
Lombardi/Yangpingan (WSU) 8-0 over Shalakova/Jayasputra (ISU/MSU)
Consolation Bracket
Damron/Sterk (UT) Bye
Amelkina/Oyama (UT) 8-3 over Roshark/Dorny (UT)
Consolation Final
Damron/Sterk (UT) 8-3 over Amelkina/Oyama (UT)
Singles Bengal Draw
Jessica Hill (WSU) Bye
JJ Chen (MSU) 6-1, 6-2 over Alysha Damron (UT)
Olivia Mikkelson (ISU) 6-0, 6-1 over Cami Oyama (UT)
Rosie Sterk (UM) 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 (7-3) over Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU)
Stefanya Shalakova (ISU) 6-1, 6-2 over Angelina Amelkina (UT)
Li Yangpingan (WSU) 6-3, 7-5 over Jane Dorny (UT)
Ivayla Mitkova (UM) over Raquel Roshark (UT) (No score given)
Andrea Cuquerella (MSU) Bye
Winners Bracket
Jessica Hill (WSU) 6-2, 6-3 over JJ Chen (MSU)
Olivia Mikkelson (ISU) 6-2, 6-4 over Rosie Sterk (UM)
Li Yangpingan (WSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 over Stefanya Shalakova (ISU)
Ivayla Mitkova (UM) 6-3, 6-0 over Andrea Cuquerella (MSU)
Olivia Mikkelson (ISU) 6-3, 6-2 over Jessica Hill (WSU)
Li Yangpingan (WSU) over Ivayla Mitkova (UM) (No score provided)
Â
Li Yangpingan (WSU) 7-6 (4), 6-3 over Olivia Mikkelson (ISU)
Consolation Bracket
Alysha Damron (UT) Bye
Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) 6-0, 6-1 over Cami Oyama (UT)
Jane Dorny (UT) 6-3, 6-3 over Angelina Amelkina (UT)
Roshark (UT) Bye
Roshark (UT) 7-5, 6-3 over Jane Dorny (UT)
Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) 7-5, 7-5 over Alysha Damron (UT)
Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) 6-4, 6-0 over Roshark (UT)
Singles Black Draw
Ryan Kershner (BSU) Bye
Sicely Ferreira (WSU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 over Annemeik Sterk (UT)
Leah Kuruvilla (ISU)Â 6-3, 6-4 over Rachel Mellor (UT)
Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 6-3, 6-2 over Ali Hilaeta (UM)
Megan Lang-Gould (ISU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 over Nancy Cabanas (UM)
Jazmin Lerman (MSU) 6-3, 6-1 over Cirkeline Lundberg (UT)
Ya Chi Hsu (UT) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 over Shauna Heffernan (BSU)
Hailey Murphy (UM) 6-2, 6-2 over Maria Villarajo (MSU)
Sicely Ferreira (WSU) 6-0, 7-5 over Ryan Kershner (BSU)
Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 6-4, 6-1 over Leah Kuruvilla (ISU)Â
Jazmin Lerman (MSU) 6-3, 6-4 over Megan Lang-Gould (ISU)
Hailey Murphy (UM) 6-2, 6-4 over Ya Chi Hsu (UT)
Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 6-1, 6-1 over Sicely Ferreira (WSU)
Hailey Murphy (UM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 over Jazmin Lerman (MSU)
Kenadee Semenik (WSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 over Hailey Murphy (UM)
Jazmin Lerman (MSU) 6-3, 6-4 over Sicely Ferreira (WSU) (3rd place match)
Consolation Bracket
Annemeik Sterk (UT) Bye
Rachel Mellor (UT) 6-2, 6-3 over Ali Hilaeta (UM)
Nancy Cabanas (UM) 2-0, retire over Cirkeline Lundberg (UT)
Maria Villarajo (MSU) retire over Shauna Heffernan (BSU)
Â
Rachel Mellor (UT) 6-1, 6-2 over Annemeik Sterk (UT)
Maria Villarajo (MSU) 6-3, 1-6, 10-6 over Nancy Cabanas (UM)
Rachel Mellor (UT) 6-3, 6-4 over Maria Villarajo (MSU)
Singles Orange Draw
Ana Morett (WSU) Bye
Nicole Discenza (BSU) 7-5, 6-2 over Shivika Agrawal (UM)
Bhakti Shah (BSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 over Mirte Van Baelen (MSU)
Sol O'Lideadha (ISU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 over Dylan Lolofie (WSU)
Joana Baptista (BSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 over Adithi Venkatarishnan (UT)
Megan Lombardi (WSU) 7-5, 6-4 over Hana Cho (ISU)
Megan Davies (WSU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 over Ana Conde Vendrell (BSU)
Lola O'Lideadha (ISU) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 over Marta Garcia Roboredo (MSU)
Nicole Discenza (BSU) 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) over Ana Morett (WSU)
Bhakti Shah (BSU) 6-3, 6-2 over Sol O'Lideadha (ISU)
Joana Baptista (BSU) 6-1, 6-3 over Megan Lombardi (WSU)
Lola O'Lideadha (ISU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 over Megan Davies (WSU)
Joana Baptista (BSU) 6-2, 6-2 over Lola O'Lideadha (ISU)
Nicole Discenza (BSU) 6-0, 6-2 over Bhakti Shah (BSU)
Joana Baptista (BSU) 6-2, 6-3 over Nicole Discenza (BSU)
Consolation Bracket
Shivika Agrawal (UM) Bye
Mirte Van Baelen (MSU)Â 6-1, 6-4 over Dylan Lolofie (WSU)
Hana Cho (ISU) 6-2, 6-0 over Adithi Venkatarishnan (UT)
Marta Garcia Roboredo (MSU) 6-2, 6-7, 10-8 over Ana Conde Vendrell (BSU)
Marta Garcia Roboredo (MSU) 6-3, 6-4 over Hana Cho (ISU)
Shivika Agrawal (UM) 6-3, 6-4 over Mirte Van Baelen (MSU)Â
Marta Garcia Roboredo (MSU) 6-4, 6-3 over Shivika Agrawal (UM)
Players Mentioned
Griz Volleyball Press Conference - 10/6/25
Tuesday, October 07
Griz TV Live Stream
Monday, October 06
Montana vs Idaho St. Highlights
Sunday, October 05
Montana Volleyball Hype Video
Thursday, October 02