KEARNEY, Neb. – The Montana State University Billings men's tennis team split their pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches Friday while the women's squad went 0-2 despite playing extremely hard.
 
With the 1-1 split, the men move to 2-7 overall and open their RMAC slate with a 1-1 mark while the women move to 2-10 overall and are now 0-2 in the league.
 
The men started their day off in extremely fine form, just missing out on blanking the Cougars of Colorado Christian University 8-1 with the lone loss coming at No. 4 singles where Kavindu Gamage was forced to retire from competition due to a slight injury. However, the sophomore from Melbourne, Australia battled back in the second match of the day to claim a 6-4, 6-4 victory over the University of Nebraska-Kearney's Jack Nicholson.
 
The Yellowjackets ultimately fell in the day's second match 4-5 to the Lopers of UNK but not without exposing some weaknesses in the Lopers as Navin Marimuthu and Alonso Leon both swept their day's matches at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. The duo also combined to earn the day's sweep at No. 1 doubles.
 
On the women's side, Amanda Milliard and Devin Lackner combined to win their No. 3 doubles match match over CCU's Kaitlin Cox and Grace Christian in the day's first match. Lackner also went on to win her singles match over Cox while Kendyall Rochin earned a win at No. 3 singles over Cameron Shelby.
 
The 'Jackets will next travel to Pueblo, Colo. where they will participate in another pair of RMAC matches, this time taking on Western New Mexico University and Colorado State University – Pueblo on Friday, April 13.
 
Men's Tennis Results vs. Colorado Christian University (W, 8-1) – Friday, April 6
Doubles
1D – Marimuthu/Leon (MSUB) def. Flathers/Lego (CCU) 8-1
2D – Gamage/Knutson (MSUB) def. Alex Siemers/Etter (CCU) 8-2
3D – Staffileno/Fehr (MSUB) def. Bryan/Wheeler (CCU) 8-2
Singles
1S – Navine Marimuthu (MSUB) def. Chris Flathers (CCU) 6-0, 6-1
2S – Alonso Leon (MSUB) def. Dillon Etter (CCU) 6-2, 6-1
3S – Brad Knutson (MSUB) def. Taylor Bryan (CCU) 6-2, 6-3
4S – Andrew Wheeler (CCU) def. Kavindu Gamage (MSUB) 2-6, 1-0, RET INJ
5S – Thomas Staffileno (MSUB) def. Tyler Lego (CCU) 6-0, 6-1
6S – Geoff Fehr (MSUB def. Brandon Ruckman (CCU) 6-0, 6-2
 
Women's Tennis Results vs. Colorado Christian (L, 3-5) – Friday, April 6
Doubles
1D – Vertin/Snow (CCU) def. Housinger/Paffausen (MSUB) 9-8 (5)
2D – Shelby/Williams (CCU) def. Rochin/Rutz (MSUB) 8-6
3D – Milliard/Lackner (MSUB) def. Cox/Christian (CCU) 8-2
Singles
1S – Kara Williams (CCU) def. Laura Housinger (MSUB) 6-1, 6-0
2S – Elizabeth Vertin (CCU) def. Emily Paffhausen (MSUB) 6-3, 6-3
3S – Kendyall Rochin (MSUB) def. Cameron Shelby (CCU) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
4S – Chelsea Snow (CCU) def. Libby Rutz (MSUB) 6-0, 6-0
5S – Grace Christian (CCU) def. Amanda Milliard (MSUB) 6-3, 6-0
6S – Devin Lackner (MSUB) def. Kaitlin Cox (CCU) 6-3, 6-3
 
 
 
Men's Tennis Results vs. Nebraska-Kearney (L, 4-5) – Friday, April 6
Doubles
1D – Marimuthu/Leon (MSUB) def. Raymond/Nadella (UNK) 8-4
2D – Arin Enge/Steinke (UNK) def. Knutson/Gamage (MSUB) 8-5
3D – Conzemius/Yehzkia (UNK) def. Fehr/Staffileno (MSUB) 8-3
Singles
1S – Navine Marimuthu (MSUB) def. Josh Raymond (UNK) 7-5, 6-3
2S – Alonso Leon (MSUB) def. Yeswanth Nadella (UNK) 6-4, 6-3
3S – Revel Yehezkia (UNK) def. Brad Knutson (MSUB) 6-0, 6-4
4S – Kavindu Gamage (MSUB) def. Jack Nicholson (UNK) 6-4, 6-4
5S – John Steinke (UNK) def. Thomas Staffileno (MSUB) 6-2, 6-1
6S – Kyle Conzemius (UNK) def. Geoff Fehr (MSUB) 6-3, 3-6, 5-0 (Fehr retired)
 
Women's Tennis Results vs. Nebraska-Kearney (L, 0-9) – Friday, April 6
Doubles
1D – Connolly/Gunawan (UNK) def. Housinger/Paffhausen (MSUB) 8-1
2D – Green/Norfolk (UNK) def. Rochin/Rutz (MSUB) 8-1
3D – Messbarger/Tealyn Trimble (UNK) def. Millard/Lackner (MSUB) 8-0
Singles
1S – Vanessa Gunawan (UNK) def. Laura Housinger (MSUB) 6-1, 6-1
2S – Heather Connolly (UNK) def. Emily Paffhausen (MSUB) 6-2, 6-1
3S – Kristin Weems (UNK) def. Kendyall Rochin (MSUB) 6-1, 6-1
4S – Britni Norfolk (UNK) def. Libby Rutz (MSUB) 6-0, 6-0
5S – Nickola Messbarger (UNK) def. Amanda Milliard (MSUB) 6-0, 6-1
6S – Candace Green (UNK) def. Devin Lackner (MSUB) 6-1, 6-0