Griz get Big Sky preview at ISU’s Bengal Invite

MISSOULA - The Montana women's tennis team picked up two doubles wins and two singles victories at the Idaho State Bengal Invite in Pocatello, Idaho, over the weekend.

The Grizzlies faced Big Sky Conference opponents from Idaho State, Montana State and Utah throughout the three-day tournament, giving Montana an early look at several teams it will face again during the spring conference season.

Montana sent five players to Pocatello: Emma Marais, Rebecka Jerlardtz, Kate Prichard, Allison Crane and Kamila Slovakova.

"This tourney gave us a great chance to see what we need to work on and what we need to do to compete in the Big Sky Conference," said Montana head coach Steve Ascher. "We learned a ton and will continue working to figure out how to get through the finish line."

Crane led Montana in singles, earning a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Idaho State's Sophie Schorm. She also teamed up with Marais to defeat Montana State's Mia Tombari and Elle Middleton, 8-2, in doubles.

Slovakova added Montana's other singles win, battling past Utah's Nutsa Tsintsadze, 3-6, 6-4, 3-1. Slovakova also teamed up with Utah's Fernanda Elechiguerra Oretega to defeat Tsintsadze and Cameron Hendrix, 8-4, in doubles.

The tournament gave Montana's younger players an opportunity to compete against conference opponents before the spring season.

"One thing I loved is that we got to play against Big Sky teams for our young players to see what will be coming their way in the spring," Ascher said. "Now we get a couple weeks to train and prepare for a tournament in Ogden, Utah, where the top talent in the Big Sky will take the court."

Montana will have nearly two weeks to prepare before returning to competition at the Weber State Invitational in Ogden, Utah, Oct. 2-4.

Montana Results

DAY 1

Doubles
Emmy Richards/Veronika Zarovna (ISU) def. Emma Marais/Rebecka Jerlardtz (UM), 8-3
Lola Bean/Stela Sifuentes (MSU) def. Kate Prichard/Allison Crane (UM), 8-2
Emmy Richards/Daisy Carpenter (ISU) def. Kamila Slovakova (UM)/Ilse Fernanda Elechiguerra Oretega (UT), 8-7 (7-5)

Singles
Emmy Richards (ISU) def. Emma Marais (UM), 6-3, 6-4
Veronika Zarovna (ISU) def. Rebecka Jerlardtz (UM), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
Angel Bean (MSU) def. Kate Prichard (UM), 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
Stela Sifuentes (MSU) def. Allison Crane (UM), 6-4, 6-4
Emmy Richards (ISU) def. Kamila Slovakova (UM), 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5

DAY 2

Doubles
Angel Bean/Naomi Jin (MSU) def. Emma Marais/Rebecka Jerlardtz (UM), 8-3 \
Daisy Carpenter/Sophie Schorm (ISU) def. Kate Prichard/Allison Crane (UM), 8-3
Emma Marais/Allison Crane (UM) def. Mia Tombari/Elle Middleton (MSU), 8-2
Kamila Slovakova (UM)/Fernanda Elechiguerra Oretega (UT) def. Nutsa Tsintsadze/Cameron Hendrix (UT), 8-4

Singles
Angel Bean (MSU) def. Emma Marais (UM), 6-1, 6-2
Naomi Jin (MSU) def. Rebecka Jerlardtz (UM), 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
Daisy Carpenter (ISU) def. Kate Prichard (UM), 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-1
Allison Crane (UM) def. Sophie Schorm (ISU), 6-1, 6-1
Kamila Slovakova (UM) def. Nutsa Tsintsadze (UT), 3-6, 6-4, 3-1

DAY 3

Doubles
Mariana Zurita Berdecio/Ana Gutierrez Sampere (UT) def. Emma Marais/Rebecka Jerlardtz (UM), 8-2
Maya Inouye/Mariana Zurita Berdecio (UT) def. Kate Prichard/Allison Crane (UM), 8-7 (7-3)
Tsintsadze/Hendrix (UT) def. Kamila Slovakova (UM)/Macy Richards (ISU), 8-6

Singles
Mariana Zurita Berdecio (UT) def. Emma Marais (UM), 6-3, 6-2
Ana Gutierrez Sampere (UT) def. Rebecka Jerlardtz (UM), 6-2, 6-3
Maya Inouye (UT) def. Kate Prichard (UM), 6-2, 6-3
Mariana Zurita Berdecio (UT) def. Allison Crane (UM), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Terezie Stverakova (MSU) def. Kamila Slovakova (UM), 6-2, 6-1

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Allison Crane

Rebecka Jerlardtz

Emma Marais

Kate Prichard

Kamila Slovakova

University of Montana Athletics