CASPER, Wyo. (March 1, 2019) – The Wyoming Cowgirl tennis team traveled to Casper, Wyo., on Friday for an outreach match versus Montana State at the Wyoming Athletic Club.  The Cowgirls were welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of tennis fans that cheered UW on to a convincing 4-1 win over the Bobcats.  The victory improved Wyoming's dual record to 6-5 on the season.  
 
The match gave tennis fans in Casper a unique opportunity to see the Cowgirls play in person.  It was the first of four dual matches that the Cowgirls will host this weekend.  UW returns to Laramie for a Saturday home match versus UTEP at 11 a.m. at the University of Wyoming Indoor Tennis Complex.  On Sunday, the Cowgirls will host New Mexico State at 9 a.m. and Northern Arizona at 2 p.m.
 
"The fans were awesome tonight.  They were obviously tennis educated.  They were super loud.  We just loved it.  We couldn't have asked for anything more," said Dean Clower, UW head tennis coach.  "We came out a little bit tight, and didn't play great doubles, but kudos to the girls as they rebounded and played well in singles. 
 
"I think the strength of our team is our depth.  I think we can win at any position.  The top of our lineup is obviously experienced with Tessa (van Der Ploeg) and Elisa (Koonik), who are our captains and leaders, but I think our younger players stepped it up and played a lot better in singles than in doubles today." 
 
Montana State dropped to 3-7 overall this season.  With its win on Friday night, Wyoming improves its all-time series record versus Montana State to 11-2.
 
In doubles, Wyoming seniors Elisa Koonik and Tessa van Der Ploeg began the day with a 6-4 doubles victory over Montana State's Laura Mary and Linnea Fristam in the No. 1 doubles match.  Cowgirl junior Ana Royo and freshman Maria Oreshkina lost 7-5 to the Bobcats' Annie Walker and Sarah Cheverie in No. 3 doubles. It went down to a tiebreak in the final doubles match to see which team would come away with the doubles point.  In that No. 2 doubles matchup, UW freshmen Mihaela Kaftanova and Ida Krause battled back and forth all match with the Montana State doubles team of Enni Zander and Linda Vink.  The Bobcats eventually forced a tiebreaker at six all.  Each team traded scores until the Cowgirls built a 6-4 advantage. Unfortunately, the Bobcats scored the final four points to win the tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6).
 
Wyoming rallied back in singles play by winning the next four straight matches. Cowgirl van Der Ploeg recorded a 6-3, 6-4 win over MSU's Walker in the No. 1 singles match.  Oreshkina put UW up 2-1 with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 win over the Bobcats' Fristam at No. 3 singles.  At the number two spot, Wyoming's Koonik won in straight sets, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, against Mary, while Cowgirl Kaftanova clinched the match for the Cowgirls, 6-2, 6-2, over Cheverie at No. 6 singles.  The No. 4 singles match featuring UW's Ana Roya vs. Montana State's Enni Zander and the No. 5 singles match between Wyoming's Ana Fernandez and MSU's Sara Iverson did not finish once the Cowgirls clinched the 4-1 victory.   
  
The Cowgirls will be back in action Saturday morning as they host the UTEP Miners in a match scheduled for 11 a.m. M.T. at the UW Indoor Tennis Courts.
 
Tennis Match Results
Montana State vs Wyoming Cowgirls
March 1, 2019 at Casper, Wyo.
(Wyoming Athletic Club)
 
Wyoming Cowgirls 4, Montana State 1
 
Singles competition
1. Tessa van Der Ploeg (WY) def. WALKER, Annie (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Elisa Koonik (WY) def. MARY, Laura (MSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
3. Maria Oreshkina (WY) def. FRISTAM, Linnea (MSU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
4. Ana Royo (WY) vs. ZANDER, Enni (MSU) 6-2, 3-5, unfinished
5. Ana Fernandez (WY) vs. IVERSON, Sara (MSU) 6-4, 3-0, unfinished
6. Mihaela Kaftanova (WY) def. CHEVERIE, Sarah (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Elisa Koonik/Tessa van Der Ploeg (WY) def. MARY, Laura/FRISTAM, Linnea (MSU) 6-4
2. ZANDER, Enni/VINK, Linda (MSU) def. Ida Krause/Mihaela Kaftanova (WY) 7-6 (8-6)
3. WALKER, Annie/CHEVERIE, Sarah (MSU) def. Maria Oreshkina/Ana Royo (WY) 7-5
 
Match Notes:
Montana State 3-7 overall
Wyoming Cowgirls 6-5 overall
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,3,2,6)