PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Montana State Billings men's and women's tennis teams won a combined three of four matches Friday as the women downed both Mesa Community College and Scottsdale Community College by a score of 7-2 in each match.   The men fell 7-2 to Scottsdale Community College, but rallied for a convincing 9-0 shutout of Mesa Community College.  The women's team improved to 2-2 on the year, while the men's team improved to 1-2 on the year.

“It was a good day for MSUB tennis,” first year head coach Lew Kosich said.  “Our men lost 7-2 to Scottsdale Community College who is in the top 10 nationally with many international scholarship athletes.  In the second match we swept Mesa Community College, 9-0.  Last year Mesa was a national qualifier.  Both teams showed significant improvement over Thursday as the athletes adjusted to the conditions and got some match experience under their belts.”

The Jackets made quick work of Mesa in singles as five of the six MSUB players won in straight sets.  Freshman Kavindu Gamage dropped the first set 7-6, but fought valiantly and won the second set 6-4 and the third in a pro set tiebreaker 10-8. 

In doubles, the Jackets won all three matches, dropping just six games in the three matches.  At No. 2 doubles, junior Alonso Leon and freshman Thomas Staffileno blanked Guillerme Arcero and Nate Shook.

MSUB fought hard in the match against Scottsdale as it saw both Gamage and sophomore Navin Marimuthu earned victories in singles.  Gamage again needed three sets to garner the victory at the No. 3 singles position, while Marimuthu won at the top singles position. 

The doubles portion saw two of the three matches go down to the wire. The top Yellowjacket tandem of Marimuthu and Gamage pushed Jonathan Knowlman and Oliver Gilbert to an 8-6 score, while No. 3 duo of sophomore Brad Knutson and Leon lost to Taylor Hoffmann and Jose Martinez, 9-7.

On the women's side, the Jackets posted victories in dominating fashion. Against Mesa CC, the Yellowjackets won at the top five singles position.  Junior Johnna Beatty and freshman Kayla Rochin needed three sets to earn victories, while freshman Jane Probst lost just one game in a straight-set win.

MSUB won the doubles matches at Nos. 1 & 3.  Sophomore Kim Karlsson and senior Rikki Peach made quick work of their opponents, 8-1.  The other two matches, however, were nip-and-tuck the whole way.  Probst and freshman Kayla Rochin were pushed to the limit at 9-7, but came away with the win.

The match with Scottsdale was equally as entertaining as MSUB won 7-2.  The Jackets won the top two singles positions.  Karlsson and Rochin went the distance in their matches, while Peach won her match as her opponent had an injury at the No. 2 position.

All three doubles matches were pretty close as Beatty and graduate student Marie Patterson. The duo of Karlsson and Peach won 9-7 in the top spot to set the tone. 

Men's Results

Women's Results