University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, March 2
Greeley, Colo.
1:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Eastern Washington
Preview: @UNCO_WTennis Plays at Home this Weekend
2/28/2018 12:18:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Bears will host Eastern Washington and Nebraska, Omaha
THE SCHEDULE
Spring Match 7
Friday, March 2 - 1:00 p.m.
vs. Eastern Washington
Work Out West Fitness Center, Greeley, Colo.
Spring Match 8
Sunday March 4 - 10:00 a.m.
vs. University of Nebraska, Omaha
Work Out West Fitness Center, Greeley, Colo.
GREELEY, Colo. - The Bears (2-4, 0-2 Big Sky) resume play this weekend with a pair of contests against Eastern Washington and Nebraska, Omaha. Both matches will be at home and are free to the public to watch. The Bears have had a rocky start to their conference schedule so far but have a chance to get into the win column when they play the Eagles on Friday.
Soph. Raffa Mora is expected to continue to play No. 1 for the Bears. She is currently 2-4 in singles and 4-2 in doubles. The rest of the singles lineup has shifted from match-to-match. Tristen Bryant-Otake has played No. 2 in five of six matches and has a 3-2 record at that spot.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears had a light schedule in the month of February and played just three matches. On Feb. 18, they suffered a 6-1 loss to Idaho in Greeley. Idaho won every singles match in straight sets but the Bears swept doubles. Raffa Mora and Tristen Bryant-Otake defeated Lucia Badillos and Marianna Petrei 7-6(4) at No. 1. Sarina Chhabra and Madeline Doherty beat Maria Tavares and Laura Spaturo 7-5 at No. 2, and Carrigan Blanchard and Anna Battersby won against Maggie Chen and Shion Watabe 6-4 at No. 3.
The biggest strength for the Bears this spring has been their doubles play, where they have gone 9-8 as a team. However they still have noticeable room for improvement in singles. UNC is 13-23 as a team and Tristen Bryant-Otake is the only player with a winning record, playing at No. 2. If they hope to defeat the Eagles for the second consecutive year, they will likely need to win the team doubles point and carry their momentum into singles.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES (3-5, 0-0 Big Sky)
Eastern Washington comes in to play the Bears, having just finished a stretch of eight straight matches against non-conference opponents. They are currently riding a three-match losing skid, having lost to Washington State, Minnesota, and Gonzaga. The Eagles were shutout 7-0 in all three affairs and will likely show some desperation when they face UNC. The Eagles roster features ten players and is made up of two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen. Sr. Janaya Smith is 2-6 so far at No. 1 singles. She has held down the No. 1 spot in singles and doubles all four years at Eastern Washington. Last season, Smith held a 2-7 conference singles record and went 4-4 against Big Sky opponents in doubles.
Fr. Rylee Braden is 2-6 at No. 2 and is in her first year with the team. She will likely face Tristen Bryant-Otake on Friday in a battle of the freshmen. Eastern Washington has team wins over Pacific Lutheran, Seattle University, and Lewis-Clark State College. They have losses against Alabama, Washington, Gonzaga, Minnesota, and Washington State.
Last season, the Bears defeated the Eagles in Cheney, Wash. 5-2. Anna Battersby won in doubles 6-1 at No. 2 and Raffa Mora won in singles at No. 6 over Valentina Sottile 6-4, 7-6(4). Both lineups will be vastly different this season. Raffa Mora will likely be challenged at No. 1 for the Bears.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS (5-6, 0-0 Conf.)
The Mavericks will visit Greeley fresh off a close match they lost to Iowa State 4-3. In fact, four of the six matches the Mavericks have lost have been 4-3 defeats. As a result, the team has a losing record overall, but a winning record in individual matches. The Mavericks are 37-29 as a team in singles and 23-10 in doubles.
Nebraska, Omaha has depth on their roster but have not been able to find consistency at the No. 1 singles spot. Michelle Lo is 2-5 at No. 1, having played the position most often but three other players have found themselves at No. 1 at different points this spring. Janelle Wilson has picked up the slack though and is 5-0 at No. 2 since taking over that position. Wilson and Lo are also 4-1 together playing No. 1 doubles.
It will be the first time the Bears and Mavericks have played since 2012. The Bears won the matchup six years ago 6-1 in Omaha.
Spring Match 7
Friday, March 2 - 1:00 p.m.
vs. Eastern Washington
Work Out West Fitness Center, Greeley, Colo.
Spring Match 8
Sunday March 4 - 10:00 a.m.
vs. University of Nebraska, Omaha
Work Out West Fitness Center, Greeley, Colo.
GREELEY, Colo. - The Bears (2-4, 0-2 Big Sky) resume play this weekend with a pair of contests against Eastern Washington and Nebraska, Omaha. Both matches will be at home and are free to the public to watch. The Bears have had a rocky start to their conference schedule so far but have a chance to get into the win column when they play the Eagles on Friday.
Soph. Raffa Mora is expected to continue to play No. 1 for the Bears. She is currently 2-4 in singles and 4-2 in doubles. The rest of the singles lineup has shifted from match-to-match. Tristen Bryant-Otake has played No. 2 in five of six matches and has a 3-2 record at that spot.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears had a light schedule in the month of February and played just three matches. On Feb. 18, they suffered a 6-1 loss to Idaho in Greeley. Idaho won every singles match in straight sets but the Bears swept doubles. Raffa Mora and Tristen Bryant-Otake defeated Lucia Badillos and Marianna Petrei 7-6(4) at No. 1. Sarina Chhabra and Madeline Doherty beat Maria Tavares and Laura Spaturo 7-5 at No. 2, and Carrigan Blanchard and Anna Battersby won against Maggie Chen and Shion Watabe 6-4 at No. 3.
The biggest strength for the Bears this spring has been their doubles play, where they have gone 9-8 as a team. However they still have noticeable room for improvement in singles. UNC is 13-23 as a team and Tristen Bryant-Otake is the only player with a winning record, playing at No. 2. If they hope to defeat the Eagles for the second consecutive year, they will likely need to win the team doubles point and carry their momentum into singles.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES (3-5, 0-0 Big Sky)
Eastern Washington comes in to play the Bears, having just finished a stretch of eight straight matches against non-conference opponents. They are currently riding a three-match losing skid, having lost to Washington State, Minnesota, and Gonzaga. The Eagles were shutout 7-0 in all three affairs and will likely show some desperation when they face UNC. The Eagles roster features ten players and is made up of two seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen. Sr. Janaya Smith is 2-6 so far at No. 1 singles. She has held down the No. 1 spot in singles and doubles all four years at Eastern Washington. Last season, Smith held a 2-7 conference singles record and went 4-4 against Big Sky opponents in doubles.
Fr. Rylee Braden is 2-6 at No. 2 and is in her first year with the team. She will likely face Tristen Bryant-Otake on Friday in a battle of the freshmen. Eastern Washington has team wins over Pacific Lutheran, Seattle University, and Lewis-Clark State College. They have losses against Alabama, Washington, Gonzaga, Minnesota, and Washington State.
Last season, the Bears defeated the Eagles in Cheney, Wash. 5-2. Anna Battersby won in doubles 6-1 at No. 2 and Raffa Mora won in singles at No. 6 over Valentina Sottile 6-4, 7-6(4). Both lineups will be vastly different this season. Raffa Mora will likely be challenged at No. 1 for the Bears.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS (5-6, 0-0 Conf.)
The Mavericks will visit Greeley fresh off a close match they lost to Iowa State 4-3. In fact, four of the six matches the Mavericks have lost have been 4-3 defeats. As a result, the team has a losing record overall, but a winning record in individual matches. The Mavericks are 37-29 as a team in singles and 23-10 in doubles.
Nebraska, Omaha has depth on their roster but have not been able to find consistency at the No. 1 singles spot. Michelle Lo is 2-5 at No. 1, having played the position most often but three other players have found themselves at No. 1 at different points this spring. Janelle Wilson has picked up the slack though and is 5-0 at No. 2 since taking over that position. Wilson and Lo are also 4-1 together playing No. 1 doubles.
It will be the first time the Bears and Mavericks have played since 2012. The Bears won the matchup six years ago 6-1 in Omaha.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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