BOZEMAN, Mont. - Three UC Riverside newcomers made their UCR debuts with promising performances, but the Highlanders dropped their 2024 opener at Montana State on Friday at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center, 7-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UCR dropped the doubles point to start 2024 with newcomers Hugo DeGrande and Lucas Ibarrondo Suarez teaming up on two. 
• Justin Lamy took a one set lead on court two with a 6-4 win in singles play. 
• DeGrande forced a tiebreaker in singles play on three before conceding in a hard-fought 5-7 tiebreak.
• Lucas Mszyca provided another strong showing from the new corps of Highlanders, falling 5-7 in set one on court six. 
• Aarav Sane rebounded from a set one loss to force a third set on five with a 7-5 win. The junior would not go down quietly in a 10-7 defeat in a decisive set three. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

• Ibarrondo Suarez, DeGrande and Mszyca all made their Highlander debuts in Montana in both doubles and singles. 

UP NEXT

• UC Riverside will stay in Montana for a 12:00 p.m. match with Seattle on Saturday, January 13.