BILLINGS, Mont. – Hosting Montana State University in their first match of the 2015 season, the Montana State University Billings women's tennis team fell 7-0 to the visitors Saturday evening at the Elks Tennis Center.
"This is a tough match to start our season but our team handled it well," said MSUB head coach
Becky King. "We were in many of the points but MSU came out on top."
Hannah Shephard and
Jade Goodyear-Anderson teamed up at No. 1 doubles for the Yellowjackets, falling to Laura Middel and Liana Bates 6-3. Jessica Brycki and Molly Crum of MSU defeated MSUB's No. 2 doubles team of
Emily Paffhausen and
Mary Conwell by the same score 6-3.
Playing at No. 3 in doubles for MSUB,
Morgan Opp and
Ricquel Ramsbottom fell to Angelina Philippova and Shelby Cerkovnik 6-1.
In singles play, Conwell and Ramsbottom each took their opponents to three sets. Conwell rallied to win the second set over Crum 7-6 (7-5), but the former collected the overall victory, 6-1, 6-7 (7-5) and 1-0 (10-6).
Ramsbottom responded after dropping the first set 6-4 with a 6-0 triumph, but Cerkovnik came back to win the third set 1-0 and the match overall, 6-4, 0-6, 1-0 (10-4).
Middel defeated Opp in consecutive sets, 6-1, 6-0, and Brycki beat Shephard by the same score. Goodyear-Anderson fell to Philippova 6-2, 6-2, and Bates defeated Paffhausen 6-4, 6-1.
"Playing these tough matches will make us stronger and better competitors when it comes to our conference matches," King commented.
MSUB is now 0-1 on the season with the loss, while MSUB improved to 1-2 in its spring season.
UP NEXT: MSUB will face Utah State University and Lewis-Clark College on Feb. 20 and 22 in Bozeman, Mont., at the Bobcat Tennis Center. After those two matches, the 'Jackets will head to Orlando, Fla., for a five-match trip over Spring Break.
RESULTSDoubles#1 L. Middel and L. Bates def
Hannah Shephard and
Jade Goodyear-Anderson 6-3
#2 I. Brycki and M. Crum def
Emily Paffhausen and
Mary Conwell 6-3
#3 A. Philippova and S. Cerkovnik def
Morgan Opp and
Ricquel Ramsbottom 6-1
Singles#1 Middel def Opp 6-1, 6-0
#2 Brycki def Shephard 6-1, 6-0
#3 Philippova def Goodyear-Anderson 6-2, 6-2
#4 Crum def Conwell 6-1, 6-7 (7-5), 1-0 (10-6)
#5 Bates def Paffhausen 6-4, 6-1
#6 Cerkovnik def Ramsbottom 6-4, 0-6, 1-0 (10-4)
