(Pocatello, Idaho - March 22, 2025) - Utah Tech women's tennis knocked off Montana 4-3 in a come-from-behind neutral-site victory at Reed Gym on Saturday afternoon.  

"We got a big win," head coach Eric Pelton said. "We came up just short by a couple of points in doubles but pulled out some big wins in singles."

The Trailblazers tied the all-time series with the Grizzlies 1-1 in their second-straight win in Idaho. UT has won three of its last four games.

In doubles play, senior Laura Coulome and freshman Nutsa Tsintsadze tied things up with a 6-4 win in the third doubles match. 

The second and deciding doubles match went to a tiebreaker, but the Griz pair of sophomore Piper Freeman and freshman Kate Prichard took it 7-6 (7-1). 

In singles play, sophomore Mariana Zurita won at the No. 1 spot with a 6-2, 6-4 showing over Freeman. 

The Trailblazers took their first lead when freshman Maya Inouye beat Prichard 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 4 spot.

Montana tied things up with a win at the No. 3 spot, but sophomore Ana Gutierrez Sampere reclaimed the lead in a thrilling three-set match at the No. 2 spot. UM senior Rosie Sterk swiped the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (7-4). Gutierrez Sampere battled back to win a long tiebreaker 7-6 (10-8) in the second set and rode that momentum to a 6-3 win in set three. 

Junior Nicole Kells was unchallenged at the No. 6 spot to give UT its fourth and game-winning point. 

Utah Tech will take on Idaho State at 9 a.m. tomorrow, March 23, inside Reed Gym in Pocatello, Idaho.

Results
Utah Tech 4, Montana 3
March 22, 2025, at Reed Gym (Pocatello, Idaho)

 Doubles Competition
1. Grace Haugen/Rosie Sterk (UM) def. Mariana Zurita/Maya Inouye (UT) 6-2
2. Piper Freeman/Kate Prichard (UM) def. Ana Gutierrez Sampere/Olivia Bustos (UT) 7-6 (7-1)
3. Laura Coulome/Nutsa Tsintsadze (UT) def. Olivia Moir/Shivika Agrawal (UM) 6-4

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2

Singles Competition
1. Mariana Zurita (UT) def. Piper Freeman (UM) 6-2, 6-4
2. Ana Gutierrez Sampere (UT) def. Rosie Sterk (UM) 6-7 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8), 6-3
3. Olivia Moir (UM) def. Nutsa Tsintsadze (UT) 6-3, 6-4
4. Maya Inouye (UT) def. Kate Prichard (UM) 6-4, 6-3
5. Shivika Agrawal (UM) def. Laura Coulome (UT) 6-4, 6-4
6. Nicole Kells (UT) def. No Player (UM) 6-0, 6-0 by forfeit 

Order of Finish: 1, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6

Match Notes:
Utah Tech (3-9, 0-0 WAC)
Montana (3-11, 1-3 Big Sky)