In its single match of the weekend, the University of Montana women’s tennis team will face Big Sky conference opponent Northern Arizona  in Flagstaff Friday. The Grizzlies are 3-0 in conference while the Lumberjacks sit at 2-0.

In 2009, the Grizzlies met the Lumberjacks in a 1-6 loss at a Montana State neutral site. The two teams also played in the Big Sky tournament semifinal, where NAU won the first four points and the remaining three matches were uncontested.

In the present season, Montana is 4-6 overall. Northern Arizona is 6-3, having won five of its last six matches.

NAU has been bringing the most heat at the bottom of its roster, with No. 4 Malia Wahinepio going 7-2 so far this spring, and at No. 6 with Yumi Hasegawa, charting a 6-2 advantage over her opponents.

Hasegawa and freshman Nicole Perez, playing at No. 2 for the ‘Jacks, have both won their last five matches, winning the only two points for NAU over UTEP February 26.

Grizzly Freshman Constance Alexander will be looking to improve upon her impressive 3-0 start in conference, playing at Nos. 1 and 2. The Bonita California native has taken commanding victories at both positions for the Grizzlies in conference competition as of late, winning 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 for the team vs. Weber State and 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 vs. Idaho.  

With February 10 Big Sky Player of the Week Rebecca Bran in and out of competition due to injury, the entire Grizzly team has had to step up and play their part in various positions. Bran’s sister, Amanda, is one who has played well for Montana from Nos. 1 to No. 3.

Following an early morning session with coach Steve Ascher Wednesday, Amanda Bran said, “The team is really excited to play at NAU this weekend.  In my two years here, we have not had the chance to play them there in Flagstaff and we are ready for a new challenge.”

Bran continued, “I was a little sick for our matches last week, but I refused to let it break me down. Now we have had a couple of really good weeks of practice and I believe that we will be ready for the conditions we find. Coach Ascher has been working with me, helping me to adjust my game so that I might respond more quickly during competition.”

Of the trip this weekend, Ascher said, “NAU is a great team, but we know right now is that a real challenge for us will be the environment that we are playing in when we get down there. I’ve been speaking with other coaches and the surface at their indoor facility is a little different than what we’ve seen at some of our other venues at altitude. 

“As a coach that is trying to keep his team healthy, I worry a little about athletes slipping on the surface at the Flagstaff Athletic Club.  n the end, we know that teams are going to have to play there. It will be a little like a board game to respond at NAU: we know the rules and the game, but we will just have to see what unfolds as we begin and then respond accordingly to play within our own parameters.”

The Grizzlies will have an opportunity to practice in Flagstaff Thursday before their 10:00 a.m. match Friday.