Lady Yellowjackets Host Bobcats Saturday to Open 2004 Tennis Season (Jan. 22, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings women’s tennis team will open its 2004 spring schedule Saturday, January 24, when the Lady Yellowjackets host Montana State-Bozeman.  The dual match begins at noon with #1, #2 and #3 doubles, followed by six singles matches.  All matches will be held at the MSU Billings Indoor Tennis Center.  Spectators are encouraged to attend and admission is free.  For more information, contact Yellowjacket head coach Jerry Peach at 657-2111.

The Bobcats are coming to Billings in return for the Yellowjackets’ October trip to Bozeman.  The Yellowjacket men’s and women’s teams will also go to Bozeman in February for the MSU-Bozeman Invitational.

The Lady Yellowjackets have five returning players from last year’s team that finished fifth in the PacWest Conference.  Seniors Amanda Schlosser (Billings, MT) and Jeni Howe (Glendive, MT) are joined by junior Becky Fry (Glendive, MT) and sophomores Lee Sowada (Gillette, WY) and Margot Merrill-Johnson (Salt Lake City) as the team’s nucleus.  Peach has added freshmen Tia Smith (Idaho Falls) and Brianne Roney (Cody, WY) to the roster.

“We have a group of kids who are really dedicated to each other,” said Peach.  “I see great things for the women’s team this year as they build toward the conference championships in Hawaii in April.  Last year was a learning experience.  We return 5 of 7 players from that squad.  I see improvement in everyone and although the Bobcats are better on paper, our kids will fight for each point.  This will be good college tennis.”