Griz look to carry momentum to Weber State, Utah State

With a boost of confidence gleaned from a rivalry win over Montana State, the Montana women's tennis team returns to Big Sky conference action this weekend with a pair of road duals.

The Griz (4-8, 1-2 BSC) will look for every ounce of momentum they can carry with them, too, as UM's brutal Big Sky road schedule continues in Ogden on Sunday against Weber State (4-7, 1-1 BSC) at 10 a.m.

Montana was picked fifth in the league this season, with the Griz having to face each of the four teams above them on the road. Weber State? They were picked second and received a pair of first-place votes in the preseason poll.

This week's trip to the Wasatch Front doesn't get much easier for the Griz either, with a challenging nonconference match in Logan at Utah State (3-5, 0-0 MWC) on tap for Monday at 10 a.m.

But a win over the Bobcats can do wonders for a team, and the Griz are looking to build on that gritty 6-1 victory that saw five of the six singles matches go to a third set.

"I think everyone's excited coming off such a big win and pulling those tight matches out," said head coach Steve Ascher.

"It's been a really good week of practice, so we're excited to go get after Weber."

Links to live scoring and video for Montana's match at Utah State can be found at GoGriz.com. No live coverage be available from the match at Weber State.

GRIZ TRACKS

• Montana senior Olivia Oosterbaan clinched both doubles and singles for the Grizzlies in Saturday's 6-1 Brawl of the Wild win over Montana State, and she did it in dramatic fashion to earn UM's nomination for Big Sky Player of the Week.

In the deciding doubles match, Oosterbaan and her partner Hailey Murphy needed an extra game to seal the point for the Griz, beating MSU's Jayasaputra/Chen pair 7-5 for the clinch.

In singles, she rebounded from a first-set loss and needed an extra game in the final set, coming from behind to claim a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over Izabela Heinzova on court two to seal the win for the Griz.

• Senior Maria Goheen has been a steady leader for the Griz this season, entering the week with a team-best 6-4 record and helping sure up UM's lower lineup at 3-1 on court five.

• The senior/sophomore duo of Lauren Dunlap and Rosie Sterk has continued to build doubles wins for the Griz as well. Despite falling to MSU last week the pair sits at 8-4 together this season.

Oosterbaan and Hailey Murphy have also been strong as of late, winning three straight and sitting at 3-0 as a doubles pair.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION: Weber State looks to defend the Ogden Athletic Club when the Griz come to town at 4-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play, but having already posted some impressive results this spring.

Weber has 4-3 wins over Air Force and Portland State on its resume this spring and took the nationally-ranked NAU Lumberjacks to the brink in a 3-4 loss in Flagstaff.

In the last meeting between league rivals, the Griz battled to a narrow 4-3 loss to the Wildcats last year in Missoula. Oosterbaan and Dunlap each picked up singles wins in that contest, each in straight sets as well.

Utah State, meanwhile, has struggled this season, having lost 1-6 to Idaho State in early February but also having picked up a win over Idaho soon after. The Aggies are coming off a pair of losses on a trip to California, falling to UC San Diego 2-5 and UC Irvine 2-4.

UP NEXT: Montana returns home to face the Idaho Vandals at the Peak Racquet Club in Missoula on Sunday, March 26, at 10 a.m. Admission to the Peak is open to the public and free of charge.

Griz look to carry momentum to Weber State, Utah State

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Players Mentioned

Lauren Dunlap

Maria Goheen

Hailey Murphy

Olivia Oosterbaan

Rosie Sterk

University of Montana Athletics