BILLINGS, Mont. – With four road matches on tap this weekend, the Montana State University Billings women's tennis team will open up Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on the road in Colorado.
 
Action begins with a nonconference match against Colorado College on Thursday, as the 'Jackets have one more tune-up before beginning their conference schedule. MSUB will then take on Western New Mexico and Metro State on Friday in Denver, before challenging Colorado State University – Pueblo in Pueblo, Colo., on Saturday morning.
 
"Our women have had a long break since their last match in Orlando but they have been working hard in practice and know the importance of these matches," said MSUB head coach Becky King. "I am hoping to get the first-match jitters out with a nonconference match against CC."
 
The Yellowjackets (1-6) are coming off of their first victory of the season, a 6-3 triumph over St. Benedict to wrap up their 2015 Orlando trip.
 
In their recent win, the 'Jackets picked up a pair of doubles victories and won 4 of 6 singles matches to pick up their first win. Ricquel Ramsbottom and Hannah Shephard collected a victory at No. 2 doubles, while Morgan Opp and Emily Paffhausen won at No. 3 doubles.
 
Ramsbottom also won her singles match, and the 'Jackets had strong singles results from Paffhausen, Jade Goodyear-Anderson and Mary Conwell to ensure the win.
 
"Ricquel has had a great season at the No. 6 singles position," King said. "She will be playing at No. 4 singles this weekend and I know she will rise to the occasion. In the doubles lineup I am looking for Mary and Emily to step up and get the team some points at the No. 2 doubles spot. Their experience shows tremendously on the court."
 
The Yellowjackets also hosted their annual Alumni Match at the Elks Tennis Center on Saturday.
 
"Going into the conference matches we know we are facing some tough competition," King said. "We have a solid lineup with a lot of depth. I am very hopeful for some wins this weekend."
 
Thursday, April 2 – 5 p.m. MTN – Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado College Tigers
2015 Spring Record: 5-6
 
Coming off of a 1-2 homestand last weekend, the Tigers will square off against the Yellowjackets coming off of a 6-3 loss to Holy Names on Saturday. Before that, CC defeated Hastings College 8-1 on Friday.
 
CC's best player has been Fiona Cerf, who holds an 8-3 record at No. 1 singles and has teamed up with Mary Edman to go 9-2 at No. 1 doubles. Natalia Dellavalle has also had a good showing in singles play, with a 7-4 record at No. 3. Playing at No. 2 singles, Edman has gone 6-5 so far for the Tigers.
 
In doubles action, the team of Maddie Cahill-Sanida and Maggie Harwood has posted a record of 7-4 to complement Cerf and Edman as the No. 2 team.
 
The Series: Colorado College has a narrow 4-3 alltime lead in the series against the Yellowjackets. The teams have split their last four meetings dating back to the 2007 season, and have not met since 2011 when CC defeated MSUB 5-4 in Colorado.
 
Friday, April 3 – 9:30 a.m. MTN – Denver
Western New Mexico University Mustangs
2015 Spring Record: 5-11
 
The Mustangs are currently enduring a three-match losing skid, and most recently lost to the University of Texas – El Paso 6-1 on March 19.
 
WNMU's last victory came on March 13 with a 7-2 result against San Diego Christian College on the road.
 
Leading the team in singles play has been Ganna Tiurina, who has gone 8-7 at No. 1 singles for the Mustangs. Close behind is Pauline Emin who is 7-8 and Claudia Osuna who is 6-6.
 
In doubles action, Annica Betz and Tiurina have gone 4-11 at the No. 1 spot while Emin and Ashley Newell have gone 2-6 at No. 2 doubles.
 
The Series: MSUB is 7-5 alltime against WNMU, but the Mustangs have won the last five meetings between the teams dating back to 2010. Prior to that, MSUB won the first seven matches between 2003 and 2009. Eleven of the 12 matches have been played at a neutral site over the years, with MSUB having the lone win at home in the inaugural matchup on April 12, 2003.
 
Friday, April 3 – 3 p.m. MTN – Denver
Metro State University Roadrunners
2015 Spring Record: 3-10, 0-1 RMAC
 
Metro State has lost four of its last five matches, most recently falling to Air Force Academy 7-0 on Sunday.
 
The Roadrunners' lone win during the stretch came against Hastings College, a 9-0 triumph on Saturday at home that snapped a three-match losing skid.
 
In singles play, Courtney Wright has been the top player posting a 10-8 overall record and a 7-5 mark at No. 1 singles. Kasey Love has slotted in nicely at No. 2 singles, going 7-11 overall and 4-7 at No. 2.
 
In doubles play, Haleigh Chobanian and Love have teamed up to go 4-8 and Ana-Jelena Vujosevic and Wright have matched that win total going 4-5.
 
The Series: MSUB controls the alltime series with a 9-7 record against Metro State, and has won the last two matches between the teams. The Yellowjackets won 5-0 and 6-3 last season, to snap a five-match losing streak against the Roadrunners. The 'Jackets won seven matches in-a-row in the series between 2005 and 2010, and are 6-3 overall on the road.
 
Saturday, April 4 – 10 a.m. MTN – Pueblo, CO
Colorado State University – Pueblo ThunderWolves
2015 Spring Record: 3-7
 
The ThunderWolves are coming off a pair of losses last week, but also collected a big 7-2 win over Colorado College. CSU-P lost to Cameron (Okla.) on Monday, after falling to Holy Names on March 27.
 
In singles play Mariana Hosami leads the pack with a dozen victories, while Patricia Maya is close behind with a record of 11-10 and 9-7 at the No. 1 position. Toni Alvarez (8-14), and Sarah Coy (8-11) have also had good seasons in singles action.
 
The doubles team of Maya and Brooke Trevithick has gone 7-6 at No. 1 doubles, while Alvarez and Coy have teamed up to win five doubles matches. Teresa Haro and Hosami have also contributed five wins at doubles this season.
 
The Series: MSUB leads the all-time series with an 8-5 record and won last season's only meeting 5-4 in Billings. The ThunderWolves won three in-a-row before that, and hold a 3-2 advantage at home against the Yellowjackets.