Griz win doubles again, fall in singles at Utah State

Monday, March 20

Logan, Utah

10 AM

Montana

Utah State

The Griz play against Montana State at PEAK Racket Club in Missoula on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/UM Athletics

Griz win doubles again, fall in singles at Utah State

3/20/2023 3:49:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

It was déjà vu all over again for the Montana women's tennis team in a non-conference dual at Utah State Monday morning.

Like the day before at Weber State, the Griz led early in their upset bid with a doubles round win against the Aggies. But, like they did against the Wildcats, UM fell short in singles, dropping five of six matches in a 5-2 loss.

The Griz, who have now won six of their last eight doubles points, took the 1-0 lead over the USU with wins on courts three and one at the Sports Academy Racquet Club.

Rosie Sterk was Montana's only winner in singles, however, as the Griz dropped three top-of-the-lineup matches, as well as matches on courts five and six, all in straight sets to see Utah State through to the victory.

UM now falls to 4-10 on the season and remains at 1-3 in conference play after going 0-2 on its trip to the Wasatch Front. Utah State, which counts a win over Montana State and a loss to Idaho State among its common opponents with UM this season, improves to 5-5.

Montana, however, was without the use of two of its top players against USU. All-Big Sky sophomore Grace Haugen and freshman Hailey Murphy each sat out Monday's dual to nurse injuries in preparation for a return to conference play.

Doubles has remained one of Montana's strengths all season, but Montana needed a rally to claim the opening point against Utah State, with the Aggies winning the first 14 points of the round across all three courts.

The Griz would get that bounce back from Sterk and her partner Lauren Dunlap who improved to 10-4 on the season together, winning seven of their last nine doubles matches. The Grizzly No. 1 pair rebounded from being down 4-0 down to win 6-4 over USU's Ozturk/Lavatai pair.

Olivia Oosterbaan and Ivayla Mitkova then clinched the opening point for UM on court three, winning 6-4 in another comeback over the Aggies' County/Nespor duo.

Utah State controlled the singles, however, winning in straight sets on all but one court.

Sterk, a sophomore from Scotland, got Montana's only point of the day, bouncing back from a first-set loss to beat Laura De Hilario 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3 on court four, making it a 5-2 final score.

"It was another competitive match, and we're continuing to grow. I think playing on this quicker surface and environment will teach us lessons that we will apply up at NAU in a couple weeks," said head coach Steve Ascher.

"The doubles was awesome again, and we keep digging out the close matches to take the point. It was also great to see Rosie battle back and really assert herself in the third set in singles. Her game has been growing, and it's great to see."

UP NEXT: Montana returns home for just the second time this season in a crucial Big Sky match against the Idaho Vandals on Sunday, March 26, at 10 a.m. inside the Peak Racquet Club.

With just three weeks left in the regular season and three of their final four matches at home, Montana's push toward the conference championship tourney in Phoenix remains in reach.

With Idaho currently sitting just above the Griz in the league standings in the sixth and final slot, next Sunday's match takes on a must-win feel for both teams to keep their postseason hopes alive.