Northern Colorado Rallies for Win over Bobcats

Sunday, April 8

Bozeman

9 a.m.

Montana State University

Northern Colorado

Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson

4/8/2012 7:04:00 PM | Women's Tennis

After capturing the opening doubles point and taking a straight set win at No. 1 singles, the Montana State women’s tennis team found themselves out to a quick 2-0 advantage over Northern Colorado.

By: Tom Schulz

After capturing the opening doubles point and taking a straight set win at No. 1 singles, the Montana State women's tennis team found themselves out to a quick 2-0 advantage over Northern Colorado. However, the Bears rallied winning the next five singles contests to escape with a 5-2 victory, Sunday morning in the Anderson Tennis Center.

“We got out to a nice lead winning doubles by a close of margin,” said MSU head coach Denise Albrecht. “We had good momentum heading into singles, and when Char (Hjalmarsson) won at the top spot, we were in a good position. However, give Northern Colorado credit, they battled back and we didn't have an answer.

“We'll need to look deep, regroup and come back stronger next week,” Albrecht.

MSU won the opening point winning a pair of tie-breaks at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles.

Hjalmarsson, a junior from Karlskrona, Sweden, then defeated UNC's Jennifer Whateley, 6-3, 6-2. The Bobcats needed to capture just two of the remaining five singles matches, but dropped three tough contests in three sets each at Nos. 2, 3, 4 singles.

The Bobcats will host Eastern Washington next Saturday at 9 a.m. in the Anderson Tennis Center.

Results: Northern Colorado 5, Montana State 2: Singles: 1. Hjalmarsson, Char (MSU) d, Whateley, Jennifer 6-3, 6-2; 2. Nieto, Adriana (NC) d. Tsan, Wena 6-1, 2-6, 7-5; 3. Tapia, Elizabeth (NC) d. Lopez, Paulina 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; 4. Catlin, Stephanie (NC) d. Crum, Ellie 6-2, 0-6, 7-6(4); 5. Buchanan, Jennifer (NC) d. De La Torre, Andrea 6-2, 6-2; 6. Hoolahan, Chrissie (NC) d. Bates, Liana 6-2, 6-3. Doubles: Tapia/Catlin (NC) d. Hjalmarsson/Lopez 8-4; 2. De La Torre/Crum (MSU) d. Whateley/Nieto 9-8(7); 3. Tsan/Villegas, Gabi (MSU) d. Buchanan/Hoolahan 9-8(5).