Yellowjackets Keep Cinderella Season Alive

BILLINGS, Mont. – The clock has not struck midnight yet for the women’s tennis team at Montana State Billings.  The Yellowjackets are heading to Altamonte Springs, Fla., May 13-16, to compete in the NCAA Division II Championships.  MSUB will take on Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday, May 13 at 4:00 p.m. in a first round match.

On May 8, MSUB beat Minnesota State-Mankato 5-3 to advance to the Central Region #1 championship match.  The following day, the Jackets avenged an earlier loss, beating top seeded St. Cloud State, 5-4, for the championship.  MSUB had lost 5-4 to SCSU on Mar. 4.

Ana Juarez leads the way with a record of 18-4.  She broke the single-season school record of 16 set last year by Anne-Sophie Tredet.  Ling Chan is 13-8 and was named the RMAC Player of the Year.  Chan earned All-RMAC first team honors while Juarez and Tredet made second team.

Montana State Billings is 16-10 on the season but have won 16 of its last 20 matches.  This will be the first meeting since 2007 against Hawaii Pacific.  The Sea Warriors have won all four previous matches.

“When the plane lands in Florida, I think reality will set in,” said head coach Jerry Peach.  “The last few days have just been a blur.  When Ana and Ling joined the team, I felt we had the potential to go to nationals.  This is a great group of young ladies.  They don’t know the meaning of the word surrender.  HPU is a very tough opponent and all we can do is go out and perform to the best of our ability.”