DENVER – Kicking off Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Saturday at the Regency Athletic Complex, the Montana State University Billings women's tennis team split a pair of matches against Western New Mexico University and Metro State University Denver.
 
The Yellowjackets (2-7, 1-1 RMAC) lost to the Mustangs 7-2 before rallying to win their second match of the day 5-4 over the Roadrunners.
 
It took a full team effort for the 'Jackets to come out on top as MSUB's 4-through-6 six singles players captured victories and the team used a pair of doubles triumphs to secure the narrow win over MSUD.
 
"The women had a great win over Metro," said MSUB head coach Becky King. "We have been putting in a lot of work with the doubles teams and it paid off."
 
Leading the way in both matches was senior captain Emily Paffhausen, who won both of her singles bouts and teamed up with Mary Conwell to capture a crucial 9-7 win in doubles action against Metro State in the nightcap. Paffhausen was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for the Yellowjackets.
 
Match 1 – Western New Mexico 7, MSU Billings 2
 
Paffhausen collected the lone wins for the Yellowjackets, as Western New Mexico won 2 of 3 in doubles play and won 5 of 6 singles matches in the 7-2 victory.
 
Paffhausen earned a hard-fought point for the 'Jackets, persevering over WNMU's Tiffany Newell at No. 6 singles for a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-4, 10-8 victory. She and Mary Conwell then held off Ashley Newell and Diamond Morrill in doubles play for a 9-7 win.
 
Playing at No. 2 singles, Hannah Shephard also had a strong battle for MSUB, but the Mustangs' Annica Betz rallied for a 2-6, 7-5, 13-11 win.
 
At No. 1 singles, Ganna Tiurina took care of Morgan Opp 6-1, 6-0, while Ashley Newell cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win over MSUB's Jade Goodyear-Anderson at No. 3 singles. Claudia Osuna defeated Yellowjacket freshman Ricquel Ramsbottom 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, while Pauline Emin edged Conwell at No. 5 singles 7-5, 6-4.
 
In the lead doubles spot, Tiurina and Betz held strong for an 8-5 win over Opp and Goodyear-Anderson, while Emin and Osuna rolled to an 8-1 win over the MSUB team of Shephard and Ramsbottom.
 
Western New Mexico improved to 7-11 on the season with the victory and is now 1-0 in RMAC competition.
 
Results
Doubles
No. 1 – Tiurina and Betz (WNMU) def. Opp and Goodyear-Anderson (MSUB) 8-5
No. 2 – Conwell and Paffhausen (MSUB) def. Newell and Morrill (WNMU) 9-7
No. 3 – Emin and Osuna (WNMU) def. Shephard and Ramsbottom (MSUB) 8-1
 
Singles
No. 1 – Tiurina (WNMU) def. Opp (MSUB) 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 – Betz (WNMU) def. Shephard (MSUB) 2-6, 7-5, 13-11
No. 3 – Newell (WNMU) def. Goodyear-Anderson (MSUB) 6-1, 6-3
No. 4 – Osuna (WNMU) def. Ramsbottom (MSUB) 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 – Emin (WNMU) def. Conwell (MSUB) 7-5, 6-4
No. 6 – Paffhausen (MSUB) def. Newell (WNMU) 5-7, 6-4, 10-8
 
Match 2 – MSU Billings 5, Metro State University Denver 4
 
Paffhausen and Conwell combined for a big 9-7 doubles win over the team of Courtney Wright and Ana-Jelena Vujosevic, and Shephard and Ramsbottom backed it up with an 8-5 win over Megan Bell and Kaitlyn Miller as the 'Jackets picked up their second win in their last three matches.
 
In addition to the two doubles victories, MSUB split the singles matches with Ramsbottom, Conwell and Paffhausen each collecting victories. Ramsbottom cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Vujosevic at No. 4 singles, while Conwell defeated Bell 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 singles. Paffhausen picked up her second singles win of the day with a 6-3, 6-3 result over Miller.
 
Playing in the lead singles spot, Wright took down Opp of MSUB 6-1, 6-1 and MSUD's Kasey Love followed suit with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Shephard at No. 2. Haleigh Chobanian gave the Roadrunners their third singles win with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Goodyear-Anderson at No. 3.
 
Despite winning at No. 1 doubles 8-2, the effort by Chobanian and Love was not enough to keep their team in it as the Yellowjackets sealed the victory.
 
"Ricquel had a great win at No. 4 and Mary and Emily both had solid wins in their singles matches," King said. "Emily pulled through her match even with a lot of pressure to win it overall for the team. This is a great win for us in the conference."
 
Results
Doubles
No. 1 – Chobanian and Love (MSUD) def. Opp and Goodyear-Anderson (MSUB) 8-2
No. 2- Paffhausen and Conwell (MSUB) def. Wright and Vujosevic (MSUD) 9-7
No. 3 – Shephard and Ramsbottom (MSUB) def. Bell and Miller (MSUD) 8-5
 
Singles
No. 1 – Wright (MSUD) def. Opp (MSUB) 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 – Love (MSUD) def. Shephard (MSUB) 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 – Chobanian (MSUD) def. Goodyear-Anderson (MSUB) 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 – Ramsbottom (MSUB) def. Vujosevic (MSUD) 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 – Conwell (MSUB) def. Bell (MSUD) 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 – Paffhausen (MSUB) def. Miller (MSUD) 6-3, 6-3
 
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets wrap up the conference-opening road trip with a 2:30 p.m. match against Colorado State University – Pueblo on Saturday.