(Editor’s note: Montana State athletics release)
SPOKANE, Wash. — Montana State newcomer Linnea Fristam defeated teammate Annie Walker 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 to win the Zag Flight singles title at Gonzaga’s Bulldog Invitational on Sunday afternoon. Both Fristam and Walker captured two victories in prior rounds to reach the title match.
Fristam defeated Seattle’s Martina Asciuto 7-5, 6-3 in quarterfinal play, before dispatching Idaho’s Marta Magalhaes 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 in semifinal action. Walker knocked off Seattle’s Aranza Sanabria 6-1, 6-1, and Kali McCollister 6-3, 6-2.
“Annie and Linnea’s success are byproducts of their enthusiasm to compete,” said MSU head coach Jon Reeves. “They are both gaining confidence in their shot selection and their willingness to play long points.”
Laura Mary, who played at Montana State’s top singles spot last season, fell in the consolation final of the Red Flight to Eastern Washington’s Madeline Lamoreaux 7-6(5), 7-5. Bobcat sophomore Sara Iverson also post a strong singles performance. Iverson defeated Seattle’s Lily-Ana Kreutzer 6-1, 6-3, before falling to SU’s Hannah Gianan in the finals of the Bulldog Flight.
“It was a good weekend our team,” Reeves said. ““I thought our kids were well prepared and it was displayed in their competitiveness. We are proud of their efforts throughout the event. Their positive results are confirmation that their work and efforts are paying off. We have played a lot of matches four weeks in a row. As a team, we are progressing nicely through the fall season.”
Montana State will play at the ITA Regionals beginning on Oct. 10 in Las Vegas.
Singles Results:
Red Flight
QF: Nika Zupanic (WASH) d. Laura Mary (MSU) 6-3, 6-1
CSF: Laura Mary (MSU) d. Maria Tavares (UI) by default
CF: Madeline Lamoreaux (EWU) d. Laura Mary (MSU) 7-6(5), 7-5
Zag Flight
QF: Annie Walker (MSU) d. Aranza Sanabria (Seattle) 6-1, 6-1
QF: Kali McCollister (SU) d. Linda Vink (MSU) 7-5, 6-3
QF: Linnea Fristam (MSU) d. Martina Asciuto (SU) 6-2, 6-1
CSF: Martina Asciuto (SU) d. Linda Vink (MSU) 6-2, 3-6, 10-6
SF: Annie Walker (MSU) d. Kali McCollister (SU) 6-3, 6-2
SF: Linnea Fristam (MSU) d. Marta Magalhaes (UI) 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
F: Linnea Fristam (MSU) d. Annie Walker (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 10-6
Bulldog Flight
R16: Eimear Maher (Montana) d. Sarah Cheverie (MSU) 6-3, 4-6, 10-6
QF: Sara Iverson (MSU) d. Eimear Maher (UM) 6-4, 6-1
CSF: Jennifer Lewis (EW) d. Sarah Cheverie (MSU) 3-6, 7-5, 10-6
SF: Sara Iverson (MSU) d. Lily-Ana Kreutzer (SU) 6-1, 6-3
F: Hannah Gianan (SU) d. Sara Iverson (MSU) 6-3, 7-6(5)
Doubles Results:
Bulldog Flight:
QF: Mary/Vink (MSU) d. Sanabria/Gianan (SU) 6-4
SF: Mary/Vink (MSU) d. Heinen/Worrall (EWU) 6-0
CF: Broussard/Nelson (EW) d. Mary/Vink (MSU) 6-2
Zag Flight:
R16: Fristam/Walker (MSU) d. Grossman/McCollister (SU) 6-2
R16: Chen/Spataro (UI) d. Iverson/Cheverie (MSU) 6-3
QF: Tsuruta/Ketels (Gonzaga) d. Fristam/Walker (MSU) 6-2
