Haugen named Big Sky Player of the Week

Pitch a shutout in doubles and clinch a road win over your rival to earn a share of the Big Sky title? Hard to argue that's not an award-worthy performance.

Montana women's tennis junior Grace Haugen did just that on Saturday, blanking her doubles opponent with her partner Rosie Sterk and clinching the Grizzlies' win over Montana State in Bozeman in three sets of singles to secure UM's first conference championship in a decade.

The near perfect afternoon of tennis has netted Haugen Big Sky Player of the Week honors, the league announced Tuesday. It's the second Player of the Week award of her career and the second for a Grizzly this season, with Hailey Murphy winning on April 10.

"Grace had an excellent weekend in Bozeman. She came out strong from the start in doubles with Rosie and kept her foot firmly on the gas pedal in singles to finish off a great win in three sets," said head coach Steve Ascher.

"She showed bravery and courage going for her shots and discipline staying with her game plan until the end. It's definitely a well-earned Player of the Week."

Haugen and Sterk shut-out MSU's Cuquerella/Dougherty pair 6-0 on court two, kickstarting Montana's win in doubles that put UM up 1-0 in the team score.

In singles, the native of Cowichan Bay, B.C., rebounded from a narrow loss in the first set to MSU's Meg McCarty to win the second and third 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, securing the Grizzly win over the Bobcats on court three.

The win over Montana State gave the Griz a share of the regular season Big Sky championship – the first three-way share in league history – with Idaho State and Sacramento State. It's only the second Big Sky title for UM in program history with the first coming a decade ago in 2014.

The win put an exclamation mark on an unbelievable turnaround season for the Griz after starting the year 2-9, but hitting their stride in conference play and winning six of their last eight duals to finish 6-2 in conference play and 8-11 overall.

Haugen has seen a personal turnaround this season as well. As a freshman, she emerged as one of the brightest future stars in the Big Sky, earning first team all-conference honors and a top-20 ITA Mountain Region ranking.

Missing five matches due to injury the following year, she hit a sophomore slump playing No. 1 for UM and capping the year with a 1-11 record.

Now playing on court three as a junior, she's climbing back to her freshman form with a 5-3 Big Sky record and 5-8 overall while missing five matches due to injury.

Haugen and the Grizzlies depart for Phoenix on Tuesday where they will take the No. 2 seed at the Big Sky championship tourney. The Griz earned a first-round bye at the tourney and will play the highest remaining seed in the tournament on Friday, April 26, at 8 a.m. at the Phoenix Tennis Center.

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Grace Haugen

Hailey Murphy

Rosie Sterk

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