The University of Montana women’s tennis team dropped to 3-1 in Big Sky conference play and 4-7 overall following a 1-6 loss to Northern Arizona at the Flagstaff Athletic Club indoor facility Friday. The Lumberjacks now stand alone atop the Big Sky conference at 3-0, while Montana drops to third behind NAU and Eastern Washington (2-0).

Going into the match, UM coach Steve Ascher had voiced concern with the Flagstaff conditions given altitude and the playing surface. Following play Friday, the story was much the same. Ascher said, “Our girls took it in stride. I’d say that they all competed very well. Their body language and psychological state stayed up through the entire match, in spite of what was happening in regard to the conditions. 

“The surface was plasticized rubber-very hard and fast. In doubles, we saw a lot of one-break points. I can’t say that it was a huge advantage for NAU, it just wasn’t like the tennis that most athletes are accustomed to playing.

“I really hope that we get another chance to play Northern Arizona at a neutral site. To play them again would yield a great match between our two programs in my opinion.”

After being swept in doubles by the Lumberjacks, Montana found a sole singles win at No. 3 with freshman Heather Davidson, who defeated Aimee Oki 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Due to the absence of Rebecca Bran at No. 1 for the Grizzlies, Davidson and the rest of the Grizzlies were again playing a position higher than they had in previous matches.

Constance Alexander, playing at No. 1 as a freshman, adapted quickly during her match, pushing the second set to a 6-7 (6-8) tiebreaker, after losing 1-6 in the first.

Ascher said, “Both Heather and Constance showed a lot of resolve for freshmen players. They fought hard through some sticky matches today.”

Davidson said, “It was a little crazy coming out to play this morning. We had practiced on the courts and it was like nothing I’d played on before. Partially due to the altitude, you needed to stand back quite a bit from where you would normally play.

“In my match the key was just to hold my serve. My opponent started to play better in the second set, forcing me to adapt in order to match her new style. I was glad to have been able to keep it together and get the win for the team.”

Ascher said, “I am really looking forward to our next several competitions. Instead of adapting to playing situations, the matches will more likely be all about point structure and point-play, areas with which we have done quite a bit of work this year.”

  

Tennis Match Results
Montana vs Northern Arizona
Mar 05, 2010 at Flagstaff, Ariz.

Northern Arizona 6, Montana 1

Singles competition:
1. GOLOVICS, Orsi (NAU) def. ALEXANDER, Constance (UM) 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
2. SUHAJDA, Edit (NAU) def. BRAN, Amanda (UM) 6-3, 6-2
3. DAVIDSON, Heather (UM) def. OKI, Aimee (NAU) 6-4, 7-6 (6-4)
4. WAHINEPIO, Malia (NAU) def. MOYSE, Kayla (UM) 6-0, 6-2
5. PEREZ, Nicole (NAU) def. GIBSON, Lauren (UM) 6-2, 6-1
6. HASEGAWA, Yumi (NAU) def. LEHMAN, Cara (UM) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition:
1. GOLOVICS, Orsi/WAHINEPIO, Malia (NAU) def. BRAN, Rebecca/DAVIDSON, Heather (UM) 8-3
2. OKI, Aimee/PEREZ, Nicole (NAU) def. ALEXANDER, Constance/MOYSE, Kayla (UM) 8-4
3. HASEGAWA, Yumi/SUHAJDA, Edit (NAU) def. BRAN, Amanda/GIBSON, Lauren (UM) 8-3

Match Notes:
Montana 4-7, 3-1 BSC
Northern Arizona 7-3, 3-0 BSC