Griz open 2026 season at Gonzaga Sunday

Sunday, January 18

Spokane, Wash.

Noon

Montana

Gonzaga

Photo by: Ella Palulis/University of Montana

1/16/2026 2:08:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Live Scoring

By: Montana Sports Information

Less than three days into the spring semester, a new-look Montana women's tennis team pops the lid on the spring championship season on Sunday with a nonconference road match against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

The Griz open the 2026 slate at the Stevens Tennis Center in Spokane at noon MT for the first of 20 duals this spring, culminating with the Big Sky championship tournament in Phoenix in late April.

Montana, the 2024 Big Sky regular season co-champ, was picked to finish sixth in this year's preseason coaches' poll and head back to the tournament in Arizona for the second time in three years as top six seed.

While the Griz return three players from that title-winning squad two years ago including the league's Freshman of the Year in Kelsey Phillips, she is the only returner who saw playing time that year.

Now after missing the tournament in 2025, the Griz take the court this year with a slew of new faces following the graduation of all-conference standouts Grace Haugen and Rosie Sterk (among others), with three of the six players in last year's lineup back this season.

Head coach Steve Ascher, a three-time Big Sky Coach of the Year, is back for his 18^th season at UM in 2026. Following a strong fall tournament season, he likes what he's seen as the newcomers acclimatize life as a Grizzly.

"It's a new team. You're going to look at the lineup and it's going to be completely different. A lot of new players and new faces. But the team is working extremely hard and they're really coachable. They're a joy to be around and to coach every day," Ascher said.

"They're trying and learning new things, and I think because of that openness to the coaching and the effort they're putting in they are developing pretty quickly. So, I think we're making some good headway and it's fun to watch them grow at a quick pace."

Leading the way for UM this season is a rejuvenated Phillips, who was the league's freshman of the year and a second team All-Big Sky in both singles and doubles in a breakout 2023 season that saw her go 6-2 in conference play.

After going 3-11 in singles in her sophomore campaign while struggling through injury, she returned healthy last fall and saw immediate success, winning the Orange doubles draw at the Idaho State Invite.

"I think Kelsey has really turned a page. She's been working hard off the court on her fitness and her strength and conditioning is up, so that's a big plus. Then, I think she's just excited to play. She' really trying to figure out how she can get better each day and make progression and is really dialed into that improvement piece this year," said Ascher.

Also back and starting to reach her potential is sophomore Monika Fizova, who went 2-9 in singles as a freshman. She came back in the fall to post a 7-6 tournament record last semester, however, including a win in the Gold consolation draw at the Gonzaga Invitational to help set the tone for the team this spring.

"I think she's made a jump for sure. She learned a lot last year and she's taking those lessons and putting them to work. She's also gotten a lot stronger off the court and her training has been really good," said Ascher.

"She's eager to compete, and I think that's what we're seeing is we have multiple people that are excited about being a college tennis player, and that permeates the team."

Another of Montana's biggest revelations in the fall was the emergence of freshman Meghna Anand, who came to UM as one of the top prep players in the Canadian Providence of Nova Scotia.

In her first semester of college tennis Anand went 9-4 in singles and 8-4 in doubles during the fall tournament season (the most wins of any Grizzly), taking titles in the Gold singles bracket at Gonzaga and the Orange doubles draw at ISU along with Phillips.

"Meghna just likes to compete. Whether its practice or whatever is happening, when it's go time and it's time to compete for something she can lock in and really play. She's dynamic and she understands tennis. She's got a big game, can go after some serves and forehands, and can problem solve on the court. For a freshman she's got some great stuff," added Ascher.

THE SCHEDULE: Montana faces a challenging nonconference slate in the early part of the new year, starting with Gonzaga this weekend and turning around next week to head south for three matches in the Wasatch region against Utah, Utah State, and Idaho State in an OOC dual to end the month.

UM will also face South Dakota and Nebraska-Omaha in Sioux Falls and Washington State in Pullman before opening conference play in Missoula against the defending conference champions and preseason favorites Sacramento State on Feb. 27 at the Peak Racquet Club in Missoula.

The Griz will conclude the regular season with four of their last five matches all played at home, including a nonconference dual against New Mexico State, and league matches against perennial powerhouse NAU, Idaho State, and Weber State.

The Big Sky Championship Tournament is set for April 23-25 at the Phoenix Tennis Center in Arizona.