Griz get redemption on Eagles with 6-1 win

Friday, March 15

Cheney, Wash.

5 PM (MT)

Montana

Eastern Washington

3/15/2024 9:07:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's tennis team avenged a February nonconference loss to Eastern Washington and got the win when it matters most: when it counts toward the Big Sky Conference standings.

The Griz opened the Friday rematch against EWU with an early 1-0 lead thanks to a win in the doubles round, then won five of the six singles matches to dominate the Eagles 6-1 at the Jim Thorpe Fieldhouse in Cheney.

Montana lost to Eastern 2-5 earlier this season when two of UM's top three players were down with injury. Back to full strength, the Griz redeemed themselves to improve to 2-0 in conference play and open their two-match road trip with a momentum-boosting victory.

"I love how the team competed today. From the start of the match in doubles, everyone brought great energy and we kept pushing each other to raise the level. I'm also stoked for the team to go 2-0 on the road," said head coach Steve Ascher.

With the win Montana improves to 3-9 overall while the Eagles fall to 3-11 and 1-2 in conference play, having beat Montana State.

In doubles, Hailey Murphy and Kelsey Phillps teamed up on court one to get UM off to a hot start, flying past EWU's Mathews/Foshee pair 6-1 for the first win of the afternoon. Soon after the Griz clinched the opening point with a 6-3 win over the Nizetic/Vasic pair to put Montana up 1-0.

Moving into singles, Montana extended the lead with quick wins at the top of the lineup.

Murphy improved on her Big Sky-best win total and moved to 9-3 on the season as a winner in seven of her last eight matches. The Canadian beat Scout Mathews 6-0, 6-2 on court one to extend the Grizzly lead to 2-0.

Phillips, a freshman, then picked up her second-straight win on court two, beating Jenifer Kida in straight sets 6-3, 6-0, to put the Griz up 3-0 in the team score.

EWU then got on the board with a 6-0, 6-4 win for Isabella Foshee over UM's Maria Goheen on court four, but the Eagles' momentum wouldn't las long.

After a couple of chances to clinch this season, Rosie Sterk finally sealed the win for the Griz, easily beating Sara Vasic 6-1, 6-0, on court six to put Montana up for good at 4-1.

Olivia Oosterbaan extended the Grizzly lead on court five, beating Kenzington Mann in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 to make it 5-1, and Grace Haugen finished off the match with a win over Leandra Nizetic in three sets 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-2 to make the final score 6-1.

"I am super proud of our team, everyone is competing and playing very well, and I think we've found our groove individually and as a team. I know when I'm on the court whether I'm up or down, everyone is cheering me on. We have had a great start to the conference season, and I am super excited to keep it going," said Murphy.

UP NEXT: Montana faces another crucial Big Sky test on Sunday, March 17, when the Griz travel to Moscow to take on Idaho inside the Kibbie Dome, with opening serves going up at 11 a.m. (MT). Links to an ESPN+ stream of the match can be found at GoGriz.com.