Cat Women Fall at Idaho

Sunday, April 23

Moscow, ID

TBD

Montana State University

Idaho

Bobcat freshman Chloe Goyette

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

4/23/2017 8:11:00 PM | Women's Tennis

In a battle for second place and a first round bye at the Big Sky Conference tournament, reigning league champion Idaho flexed its muscle with a 6-1 win over Montana State, Sunday afternoon.

By: Tom Schulz

In a battle for second place and a first round bye at the Big Sky Conference tournament, reigning league champion Idaho flexed its muscle with a 6-1 win over Montana State, Sunday afternoon.

Montana State opened the match winning the doubles point at Nos. 2 and 3 with identical 7-5 decisions. No. 1 doubles was stopped at 6-6 with the point already decided.

"We won the doubles point by playing good, solid, aggressive doubles," said MSU head coach Jon Reeves.

Singles action started with in a match between two unbeatens at the top spot. Idaho's Marianna Petrei, the defending league MVP, dispatched Bobcat freshman Chloe Goyette 6-2, 6-1. The Vandals then took straight set victories at Nos. 2 and 3 to take a 3-1 advantage in the match.

"I was hoping our doubles momentum would carry over into singles," Reeves said. "Idaho played well. We were too passive and they were aggressive and very confident."

Idaho clinched the match at No. 4 singles as Maria Tavares took a hard-fought 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 from MSU junior Angelina Philippova.

The Bobcats will be the No. 3 seed at next week's Big Sky Tournament in Phoenix and will face No. 6 North Dakota in the opening round. MSU defeated the Fighting Hawks 6-1 earlier this season in Grand Forks.

"We've seen a big improvement in our program," Reeves said. "We can't wait to get to Phoenix."

Idaho 6, Montana State 1

Singles:

1. Petrei, Marianna (UI) def. GOYETTE, Chloe (MSU) 6-2, 6-1

2. Brzozowska, Jessica (UI) def. MIDDEL, Laura (MSU) 7-6, 6-3

3. Badillos, Lucia (UI) def. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi (MSU) 6-2, 6-1

4. Tavares, Maria (UI) def. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina (MSU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

5. Watabe, Shion (UI) def. BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) 6-4, 2-6, 10-7

6. Yang, Claire (UI) def. HOLOPAINEN, Wanda (MSU) 6-3, 7-5

Doubles:

1. Badillos, Lucia/Petrei, Marianna (UI) vs. MIDDEL, Laura/GOYETTE, Chloe (MSU) 6-6, unfinished

2. HOLOPAINEN, Naomi/BRYCKI, Jessica (MSU) def. Tavares, Maria/Brzozowska, Jessica (UI) 7-5

3. PHILIPPOVA, Angelina/CERKOVNIK, Shelby (MSU) def. Yang, Claire/Watabe, Shion (UI) 7-5