BILLINGS, Mont. – Having completed the 2015 regular season with a 2-3 record in conference play, the Montana State University Billings women's tennis team enters this weekend's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships as the No. 4 seed and will face Metro State University on Friday at Pueblo City Park Tennis Complex in Pueblo, Colo.
 
The first-round matchup is set for 8 a.m. Mountain time, with the winner advancing in the tournament bracket and the loser playing a consolation match later that day.
 
"We haven't been to the tournament as the four seed for several years, and the wins we had at home this season will be good for our confidence," commented MSUB head coach Becky King. "I would like to see our women play the best that they can. If they can find confidence mentally then we should have a good weekend."
 
In MSUB's regular-season match against Metro State, the Yellowjackets picked up a narrow 5-4 victory over the Roadrunners on April 3 in Denver. Key wins by Emily Paffhausen and Mary Conwell at No. 2 doubles and by Hannah Shephard and Ricquel Ramsbottom at No. 3 doubles combined with three singles victories as MSUB collected its first conference win of the season.
 
Metro State enters the tournament as the No. 5 seed, after going 1-4 in RMAC play and carrying an overall spring record of 3-12.
 
"This is definitely a tough match coming up for us," King said. "The women know this is their last shot and they have to go out playing their best."
 
Leading the way for MSUB will be Paffhausen and Conwell, who completed the conference portion of the schedule undefeated at the No. 2 doubles position. The senior-junior duo went 5-0 and has not lost a match playing together since Feb. 21.
 
"I am really looking to Emily and Mary to continue their win streak," commented King.
 
The last time the combination took on Metro State, they defeated Courtney Wright and Ana-Jelena Vujosevic in a narrow 9-7 triumph. Paffhausen and Conwell each won their singles matches in the crucial 5-4 victory as well, with Conwell defeating Megan Bell 6-1, 6-4 and Paffhausen downing Kaitlyn Miller 6-3, 6-3.
 
Also entering the weekend with momentum is Ramsbottom who has split her last four singles matches and her last two doubles matches. As a freshman this season, Ramsbottom has put up an impressive 5-6 record playing primarily at the No. 4 singles position and as highly as No. 3.
 
In doubles play, Ramsbottom and Shephard teamed up for a big 8-0 victory over Colorado Christian in the Yellowjackets' home win on April 10.
 
"I see a lot of leadership in Ricquel especially with her moving up to number three singles," King said. "That is a tough position for a freshman, but I really think that she can rise to the occasion this weekend and end on a strong note."
 
Playing at the No. 1 position all season long has been sophomore Morgan Opp, who was part of a big 8-2 doubles win in MSUB's victory over CCU.
 
As a team the Yellowjackets finished the regular season with a 3-9 record in fourth place in the RMAC standings.
 
The RMAC Championships will be hosted by Colorado State University-Pueblo, which is the No. 3 seed in the women's bracket. Western New Mexico (10-11, 5-0 RMAC) enters as the No. 1 seed on the women's side, and the Mustangs defeated MSUB 7-2 earlier in the season en route to their perfect conference record.
 
Friday, April 24 – 8 a.m. – Pueblo City Park Tennis Complex
No. 5 Metro State University Denver Roadrunners
2015 Record: 5-15, 1-4 RMAC
 
The Roadrunners have been led by freshman Courtney Wright at No. 1 singles, as she has posted a 12-7 record in her first collegiate season. She enters the championships having won three matches in a row and is 7-3 overall in her last 10 matches.
 
In doubles play, the team of Ana-Jelena Vujosevic and Wright has gone 10-5 at the No. 2 position to provide stability for MSUD.
 
Haleigh Chobanian and Kasey Love have also been contributors in singles action with double-digit wins, as each player has 11 on the season.
 
As a team MSUD went 3-5 at home, 1-6 on the road and 1-4 at neutral sites.
 
RMAC Women's Tennis Championships Schedule
Friday, April 24
8 AM: Match 1 – #5 MSU Denver vs. #4 MSU Billings; Match 2 – #6 Colorado Christian vs. #3 CSU-Pueblo. 2 PM: Match 3 – Winner Match 1 vs. #1 Western New Mexico; Match 4 – Winner Match 2 vs. #2 Colorado Mesa. 3 PM: Match 7 – Loser Match 1 vs. Loser Match 2.
 
Saturday, April 25
9 AM: Match 5 – Winner Match 4 vs. Winner Match 3; Championship Match; Match 6 – Loser Match 3 vs. Loser Match 4.