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Tennis recap: Rams come back in big way, topping Montana State, 4-3
3/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 6, 2011
By Amanda Bader
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State Rams clinched a dramatic, 4-2 win over Montana state in a late Saturday night dual at Miramont South tennis facility.
After hosting a Kid's Day clinic open to the public prior to match play, the Rams hit the courts for a night-long battle against the Bobcats as Lauren Mulhern clinched a tie-breaking win, securing CSU's hard-earned victory in front of 153 fans.
"Tonight's play was a really great effort from the top of our line up," said Messick "I was very proud of our team and the way they fought when they got down in order to come back."
In doubles, match play remained steady across all three courts as each pair got a feel for one another's play. As Montana State stepped up its play, the Rams' hope for a doubles victory quickly dissolved.
The Rams fell in all three matches, allowing the Bobcats to clinch the dual's first point. Despite holding on at No. 3, Veronika Wojakowska and Kaitlin Wooldridge's efforts fell short; after forcing their match to a tiebreaker, the Bobcats triumphed, 8-7 (5).
"It was a difficult match because we had a sweep in doubles," said Messick. "We just didn't compete very well and started the match out the worst way we could. If you are going to lose a doubles point, you want to at least win one but we lost all three."
Colorado State was quick to make a comeback as Tori Arneson methodically cruised through straight sets to defeat her Montana State opponent, 6-2, 6-4.
Following Arneson's lead was Caitlin Fluegge, who came from behind in impressive fashion. After dropping the first set, Fluegge won the final two frames, including a dramatic match point in which she jockeyed through several deuces to finally outlast Charlotta Hjalmarsson in a two-hour marathon.
Wojakowska was next to win her match in a third set, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, which tied the team score, 3-3.
Finishing just minutes later to secure the deciding team point was Mulhern with a win. Mulhern won in straight sets, needing a tiebreaker to decide both.
In her second set, Mulhern was able to erase a 5-2 deficit to clinch the CSU win.
"We came back to win the first four matches on the court which was an outstanding effort," said Messick. "We weren't happy about losing the doubles point, but the first four singles players closed their matches out."
The Rams wrapped up play at No. 5 singles as Kaley Schultz split sets with her MSU opponent. Because the team match had already come to a decision, the final set was played out in a tie-breaking fashion, and Schultz fell, 10-8.
"It does change things a little bit when you don't play out a full third set, but the trick there is to close it out in two sets and we didn't," said Messick.
Lauren Pick was the last to come off the courts at No.6. Pick defeated her opponent 6-1 in the first set and battled out the second score before falling in the second frame, 6-4. Pick also played out a tie-breaking third set, before falling 10-8 to Fairbotham.
With Pick's final win for the Rams, CSU was able to secure a final, 4-3 victory over the Bobcats.
CSU will return to the courts after a week of practice to match up in Long Beach, Calif., to face Columbia. Matches will begin at 3 p.m. MST. The Rams' next home match is expected to be hosted at Colorado State's new outdoor tennis facility on March 25 against Weber State.
Saturday's Results:
Doubles
1 Lopez/Hjalmarsson (MSU) def. Fluegge/Arneson (CSU), 8-4
2 Crum/ De La Torre (MSU) def. Mulhern/Schultz (CSU), 8-5
3 Tsan/ Villegas (MSU) def. Wojakowska/Wooldridge (CSU), 8-7 (5)
Singles
1 Fluegge (CSU) def. Hjalmarsson (MSU), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
2 Arneson (CSU) def. Lopez (MSU), 6-4, 6-2
3 Mulhern (CSU) def. Tsan, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2)
4 Wojakowska (CSU) def. Crum (MSU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
5 De La Torre (MSU) def. Schultz (CSU), 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8)
6 Pick (CSU) def. Fairbotham (MSU), 6-1, 1-0 (8)
