Polson tennis standout takes her tennis talents to the east side

of the state

BILLINGS - Montana State University - Billings head tennis coach Lew Kosich just got a key piece in his effort to rebuild the Yellow Jackets team.

Kosich announced on July 19 that the university signed Polson's Kendyall Rochin to play along with Dillon's Emily Paffhausen.

Rochin, a three-sport athlete for Polson, finished sixth in the state tournament this year for singles play and was voted the Lady Pirates team MVP in 2010 and 2011.

"I'm really excited about it. They say it's intimidating at first but I'm ready," Rochin said.

She'll have plenty of help since her sister, Kayla Rochin, is on the tennis team, along with former Polson athlete Jane Probst. Kendyall and her sister finished fourth at state as a doubles team in 2010 and sixth in 2009.

"My sister is there so I wanted the change," Rochin said on the transition between high school and college.

She visited Montana State University in the middle of her senior year and hit with the team, but it was during the 2011 state tournament that Rochin was offered her scholarship.

"It was during state and after my matches [Lew] came up to me," Rochin said. "It's a nice campus, I really liked the town and it seemed like the place to go."

Rochin has been a rock for the Polson tennis program, starting when she was a freshman, she earned the team's Outstanding Newcomer award and earned All-Conference honors. She's also the first player for the Lady Pirates to play at three straight state tournaments.

The 2011 Polson high school graduate was very grateful of all the help she got from her coaches, Donna and Bob Hislop, and coach Sitter.