Student-Athlete of the Month - Mari Castello
Student-Athlete of the Month Mari Castello

 Mari Castello - complete bio

Height: 5'6" | Born: 5/15/86
Year: Freshman
Major: Pre-Forestry
Previous School: Belleville West HS
Hometown: Belleville, Ill.

April totals (7-1 singles, 6-3 doubles)
4/9 vs. MSU: (S) W, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5; (D) W, 9-8
4/15 vs. SJSU: (S) W, 6-2, 6-1; (D) W, 8-6
4/16 vs. SAC: (S) L, 1-6, 2-6; (D) L, 0-8
4/17 vs. UN: (S) W, 6-3, 6-2; (D) W, 8-4
4/22 vs. NAU: (S) W, 6-1, 6-1; (D) W, 8-3
4/23 vs. WSU: (S) W, 6-1, 7-5; (D) L, 6-8
4/24 vs. ISU: (S) W, 6-0, 6-1; (D) W, 8-1
4/28 vs. NAU: (S) W, 6-3, 6-0; (D) W, 9-8
4/29 vs. SAC: (S) UF, 2-6, 1-2; (D) L, 2-8
Mari Castello has been named MontanaGrizzlies.com Student-Athlete of the Month for her athletic achievements in April. Castello, a Belleville, Ill. native, led the Grizzlies to a 4-4 overall record and an appearance in the Big Sky Conference tournament semifinal while playing at No. 4 singles and No. 1 doubles.

In UM's first match of April, Castello was one of two Grizzlies to earn singles victories in a 4-3 conference loss at Montana State. Castello, playing with senior Annabelle Janairo, added a doubles victory at the top of the lineup against the Cats.

The 5-foot-6 freshman, went 2-1 in both singles and doubles play on the Grizzlies' second road trip of the month. Castello recorded straight-set wins at San Jose State and Nevada, but lost both singles and doubles contests at Sacramento State.

Montana returned home for three home duals against Northern Arizona, Weber State and Idaho State. Castello won both singles and doubles contests in Montana's 4-3 home loss to the Lumberjacks. She added straight-set singles victories in the 5-2 win over the Wildcats and the 7-0 win over the Bengals.

The Grizzlies went on the earn the No. 5 seed and played No. 4 seed Northern Arizona in the Big Sky Women's Tennis Championships in Phoenix, Ariz. Castello dropped only three match points in her singles win and won the doubles contest in the tie-break to help advance the Grizzlies to the semifinal round for the second consecutive season.

Montana fell 4-0 to Sacramento State in the conference semifinal. Castello trailed 6-2, 2-1 in the second set before the match was suspended.

Castello ended the spring dual match season with a 15-5 singles mark and a 11-10 doubles record (w/senior Annabelle Janairo). Castello was 5-1 in singles play versus Big Sky Conference opponents.