April 25, 2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The final stats say that Northern Colorado's women's tennis was shut out in its first Big Sky Conference Tennis Championship appearance.

But that couldn't be further from the truth.

The Bears did lose to Montana State 4-0 in the tournament's first quarterfinal match at Gold River Racquet Club on Friday, April 25, but the contest was called once the Bobcats (12-5, 6-2) earned that fourth point. Northern Colorado (7-14, 3-5) had a late lead in the three remaining matches on the court.

"The girls were really motivated and pumped to play well today," Bears coach Brenda Vlasak said. "We fought hard, and I feel like they left it all out on the court."

Montana State defeated Northern Colorado 7-0 earlier in the Big Sky season, but the Bears' Tiffany Knop (No. 2 singles), Manuela Santos (No. 3) and Jodi Ciarvella (No. 6) all were in position to get victories Friday and avoid a shutout in the rematch.

"The team definitely came to play today, compared to our last match with Montana State," Vlasak said. "Montana State was just the better team today."

The Bobcats' Stephanie Jasper defeated Northern Colorado's Tabatha Knop 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 singles; Ali Griffin defeated the Bears' Karen Groll 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 singles; and Remy Clark took down Northern Colorado's Luiza Xavier 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 singles.

Montana State got the doubles point after its top pair of Allison Fey and Katy Proietti took care of Tabatha Knop and Santos, and its second team of Jasper and Villegas got past Ciarvella and Groll.

"I'm proud of the girls for making it to the tournament, first of all," Vlasak said. "We lost today while competing hard, and I'm proud of them for playing well.

Montana State 4, Northern Colorado 0

SINGLES

1. Stephanie Jasper (MSU) def. Tabatha Knop, 6-3, 6-2

2. Nuria Hernandez (MSU) vs. Tiffany Knop, 5-7, 4-0, unfinished

3. Laura Villegas (MSU) vs. Manuela Santos, 3-6, 3-4, unfinished

4. Ali Griffin (MSU) def. Karen Groll, 6-2, 6-4

5. Remy Clark (MSU) def. Luiza Xavier, 6-2, 6-3

6. McKenzie Hilmer (MSU) vs. Jodi Ciarvella, 6-3, 2-6, 1-3, unfinished

DOUBLES

1. Allison Fey/Kati Proietti (MSU) def. Tabatha Knop/Manuela Santos, 8-4

2. Stephanie Jasper/Laura Villegas (MSU) def. Jodi Ciarvella/Karen Groll, 8-3

3. Nuria Hernandez/McKenzie Hilmer (MSU) vs. Tiffany Knop/Hannah LaForest, 5-5, unfinished