Who | Utah Tech (2-9, 0-0 WAC) vs. Montana (3-9, 1-2 Big Sky) / at Idaho State (7-8, 1-2 Big Sky)
When | Saturday, March 22 - 10 a.m. / Sunday, March 23 - 9 a.m.
Where | Reed Gym - Pocatello, Idaho
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)

Utah Tech women's tennis returns to Idaho to challenge two Big Sky foes this weekend. The Trailblazers start the road trip with a neutral-site match against Montana on Saturday and will head home after looking for revenge against Idaho State in the teams' second meeting of the season on Sunday. The Trailblazers are 1-1 in the Gem State this season, topping the College of Idaho 7-0 and falling to Boise State 6-1 on March 9.

A GLANCE AT MONTANA
The Grizzlies will face Utah Tech after taking on Idaho State for a Big Sky conference match on Friday. Montana enters the weekend on a three-game skid with two road losses, including a 7-0 decision at No. 75 Sacramento State, and a home loss to Portland State (6-1) last Sunday. The Griz hold wins over Lewis-Clark State (7-0), Weber State (6-1) and Seattle U (4-3). 

The Trailblazers and Grizzlies have met once, a 2022 match ending in favor of Montana 6-1 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Senior Grace Haugen leads the Griz with a 7-3 record during the dual season. Six of Haugen's wins have come at the number one spot. In doubles play, Haugen is joined by fellow senior Rosie Sterk and the pair has combined for a 7-4 record in the first match this season.

Following Saturday's contest, Montana will continue Big Sky play at Northern Arizona on Saturday, March 29, in Flagstaff, Arizona.

A GLANCE AT IDAHO STATE
The Bengals challenge UT after playing a conference match against Montana on Friday. ISU enters the weekend after picking up its first Big Sky win of the season at Weber State (4-3) on March 8. Idaho State holds wins over Lewis-Clark State (7-0), Colorado Mesa (7-0, 6-1), Utah Tech (5-2), Kansas City (4-3), College of Idaho (7-0) and WSU this season.

On Valentine's Day, ISU bested Utah Tech 5-2 in a neutral-site match in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bengals are 6-0 against UT all-time, including a 2-0 mark in Pocatello. 

Junior Stefanya Shalakhova (8-7) and freshman Victoria Grymalska (8-4) each hold eight singles wins this season to lead Idaho State. In doubles play, Grymalska and senior Olivia Mikkelson lead ISU with a 6-7 mark. 

Following this weekend's tilts, the Bengals will resume Big Sky play at home against in-state rival Idaho on Friday, March 28.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Tech women's tennis split two matches at the Appleton Tennis Center in Boise, Idaho, on March 9. The Trailblazers fell at Boise State 6-1, then swept the College of Idaho 7-0 in a neutral-site match. Freshman Maya Inouye earned the Trailblazers' lone point against the Broncos, besting redshirt junior Lorelyz Marruffo in a third-set tiebreaker at the number four singles spot 3-6, 6-3, 1-0(10-5). Sophomore Ana Gutierrez Sampere forced a tiebreaker in the second set at the number two singles spot before falling to freshman Maya Dutta 6-0, 7-6(1). At the number five singles spot, senior Laura Coulome forced an extra game before dropping the match 6-2, 7-5 to senior Ariadna Briones Ginesta. Freshman Nutsa Tsintsadze and junior Nicole Kells each won four games in their respective second sets. The Trailblazers played dominant tennis in their second match of the day, sweeping the College of Idaho 7-0 without losing a single set. In doubles play, sophomore Mariana Zurita and Inouye won the first match 6-2, Couolme and Tsintsadze took the second match 6-3 and Gutierrez Sampere and Kells earned a 6-0 win in the third match. Inouye logged her third singles win in a row with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over junior Nicole Tran at the number four spot. Coulome and Kells also lost just one game in their singles matches. At the number five spot, Coulome bested junior Riley Cordova 6-1, 6-0, while Kells beat sophomore Elizabeth Sagehorn 6-0, 6-1 at the number six spot. Zurita picked up her third singles win of 2025 with a 6-0, 6-2 showing over Hristina Ljuba at the number one spot. At the second singles spot, Gutierrez Sampere also tallied her third singles victory of the season, earning a 6-2, 6-2 win over freshman Berkley Klarich.

BROOMS AT THE READY
Both of Utah Tech's wins this season have been 7-0 sweeps. The Trailblazers earned their first win of the dual season with a thrashing of Colorado Mesa at Trailblazer Tennis Courts in St. George on March 7. UT picked up its second victory with a sweep of the College of Idaho in Boise, Idaho, on March 9.

MEET THE TRAILBLAZERS
The 2024-25 roster consists of eight student-athletes with one senior, two juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen. Five Trailblazers are international students and three hail from the United States. Senior Laura Coulome (Eastern Arizona) and junior Nicole Kells (Alcorn State) both started their collegiate careers at other schools.

Head coach Eric Pelton is in his 19th season at the helm of Utah Tech women's tennis. Pelton has totaled 106 wins at UT and winning seasons in 2014 (12-9), 2017 (9-8), 2019 (13-4) and 2020 (6-3).

2024 IN REVIEW
The Trailblazers wrapped up their fourth and final season of transition to Division I in 2024 with a 6-16 (0-7 WAC) record, defeating UT Dallas, Colorado Mesa, Ottawa University (Ariz.), and Arizona Christian, along with a pair of wins over Mesa Community College.

UP NEXT
Utah Tech hits the road for four games across four days in the Valley of the Sun next week. UT will open the business trip against Seattle U in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday, March 27, before facing Arizona Christian, Grand Canyon and Mesa Community College over the subsequent three days.