MISSOULA/BOZEMAN, Mont. - Southern Utah University men's tennis opened its inaugural season over the weekend, suffering a pair of defeats at Montana and Montana State. The Thunderbirds improved from one match to the next despite being swept in each contest.

SUU only captured three games in nine matches at Montana on Friday. The Grizzlies had been picked second in the preseason coaches poll going into the year.

The T-Birds won 11 games in nine matches against Montana State with Russ Christensen capturing four in a 6-1, 6-1 loss at No. 3 singles and an 8-2 loss at No. 1 doubles, partnering with Troy Benson.

Southern Utah will be back in action at home on March 16, hosting Sacramento State in the team's 2013 home opener. The match is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.

Tennis Match Results
Southern Utah vs Montana
Feb 16, 2013 at Missoula, Mont.

Montana 7, Southern Utah 0

 Singles competition
1. CARUK, Mikolaj (UM) def. BENSON, Troy (SUU) 6-0, 6-1
2. WARREN, Andrew (UM) def. WELLS, Bryton (SUU) 6-0, 6-0
3. FACEY, Michael (UM) def. CHRISTENSEN, Russ (SUU) 6-0, 6-1
4. VAUGHN, Ethan (UM) def. DIAL, Alex (SUU) 6-0, 6-0
5. BRANZBURG, Semion (UM) def. NIELSEN, Spencer (SUU) 6-0, 6-0
6. BRAUN, Eric (UM) def. OLCOTT, Branden (SUU) 6-0, 6-0

 Doubles competition
1. CARUK, Mikolaj/WARREN, Andrew (UM) def. BENSON, Troy/CHRISTENSEN, Russ (SUU) 8-0
2. FACEY, Michael/VAUGHN, Ethan (UM) def. DIAL, Alex/WELLS, Bryton (SUU) 8-1
3. BRAUN, Eric/BRANZBURG, Semion (UM) def. NIELSEN, Spencer/OLCOTT, Branden (SUU) 8-0

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,1,4,3,5,6)

Southern Utah vs Montana State
Feb 17, 2013 at Anderson Tennis Center

Montana State 7, Southern Utah 0

 Singles competition
1. BRANDES, Niklas (MSU) def. BENSON, Troy (SUU) 6-0, 6-0
2. MARTIN-MORILLAS, J. (MSU) def. WELLS, Bryton (SUU) 6-1, 6-0
3. SCHLEUTER, Markus (MSU) def. CHRISTENSEN, Russ (SUU) 6-1, 6-1
4. CAMPOS, Diego (MSU) def. DIAL, Alex (SUU) 6-0, 6-0
5. JAMES, Harry (MSU) def. NIELSEN, Spencer (SUU) 6-1, 6-2
6. SIVASUBRAMANIAM, P. (MSU) def. OLCOTT, Branden (SUU) 6-2, 6-0

 Doubles competition
1. CAMPOS, Diego/JAMES, Harry (MSU) def. BENSON, Troy/CHRISTENSEN, Russ (SUU) 8-2
2. MARTIN-MORILLAS, J./SCHLEUTER, Markus (MSU) def. DIAL, Alex/WELLS, Bryton (SUU) 8-0
3. BRANDES, Niklas/SIVASUBRAMANIAM, P. (MSU) def. OLCOTT, Branden/NIELSEN, Spencer (SUU) 8-1