This Week in Bobcat Athletics
5/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Tennis
Coming Events:
5/12-14: NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship First Round – site TBD
Last Week:
Men’s Tennis:
4/29: MSU def. Montana 4-0 for the Big Sky Conference Championship*
* Third consecutive title*
The MSU men’s tennis team finished its first round of post season tournaments with a bang, defeating rival Montana 4-0 for the Men’s Big Sky Conference Championship. Only seven days after dropping its first conference match in three years and seeing the end of a 19-match BSC win streak, the Montana State men’s tennis team avenged last weekend’s loss to record its third straight league title.
“This is definitely the best of the three championships,” said MSU men’s coach Mike Phillips. “This is sweeter because we had to overcome a lot this season. I’m so proud of the seniors and the rest of the squad for bouncing back from last week’s loss to Montana to get the job done when it counted most.”
The Bobcats opened the championship match winning the doubles point behind the efforts of its No. 1 and 2 tandems. MSU then received victories from Kyle McDonald and Jake Berriochoa at No. 3 and 6 singles, respectively, before senior Marek Gebicki secured a spot in Montana State athletics history with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over UM’s Stuart Wing.
The Montana State men’s tennis squad became only the second program in the history of Bobcat athletics to capture three consecutive Big Sky titles. They matched the accomplishment of the MSU football team from 1966-68.
"Montana has a very good team and it was a tough battle,” Phillips said. “I’m just amazed at this group of guys and what they have accomplished over their careers at Montana State.”
MSU will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships May 12-14, and will await announcement of their opening-round opponent.
Montana State 4, Montana 0. Doubles: 1 McDonald/Gebicki (MSU) def. Dektar/Katz (UM), 9-8 (7-2); 2 Chigateri/Ueltschi (MSU) def. Raw/Wing (UM), 8-6; 3 Hauck/Berriochoa (MSU) vs. Steenekamp/Giri (UM), 8-7 DNF; Singles: 1 Federico Ueltschi (MSU) vs. Jan Steenekamp (UM), DNF; 2 Marek Gebicki (MSU) def. Stuart Wing (UM), 6-2, 6-2; 3 Kyle McDonald (MSU) def. Colin Dektar (UM), 6-3, 6-1; 4 Tejeshwara Chigateri (MSU) vs. Felipe Raw (UM), DNF; 5 Jakub Dybala (MSU) vs. Varun Giri (UM), DNF; 6 Jake Berriochoa (MSU) def. Josh Katz (UM), 6-4, 6-2.
Outdoor Track and Field
This Week:
5/5: Last Chance Qualifier at Missoula, meet starts at 11:00 AM
Last Week:
4/29: Women def. Montana, 102-101 in the MSU/UM Dual
4/29: Men lost to Montana, 94-97 in the MSU/UM Dual
Montana State sophomore Ellie Rudy posted the eighth-best pole vault in the NCAA this year and Erin Jones-Graf won three events, helping Montana State's women to their 10th straight win over Montana in the Cat-Griz Dual in Bozeman on Saturday, 102-101.
Montana's men, behind a sweep in the jumps and hurdles, won 97-94 for the fourth time in the last five Cat-Griz meetings. The men's dual was only the second Cat-Griz clash decided by single digits since 1982, while the women's dual was the closest since 1994.
Rudy's performance stood out on a day of outstanding efforts. The current NCAA Midwest Region leader set Big Sky Conference, MSU, and Cat-Griz Dual records on Saturday with her 13-6.25 vault. Jones-Graf turned in a meet-changing performance, scoring 34 points and setting meet records in the 100 hurdles (13.88, also a regional qualifying mark) and triple jump (40-3.25).
The MSU men’s team was hampered by the absence of Steve Heberly, who withdrew from the meet due to cramping after winning the 100.
Montana and MSU compete next weekend in the Montana Last Chance Qualifier, the final regular season tune-up before the Big Sky Championships.
NFL Draft
No MSU football players were chosen in the initial seven rounds of the NFL draft over the weekend. Quarterback Travis Lulay, however, did reach a deal with the Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Rick Gatewood also signed with the Oakland Raiders.
The Big Sky Conference had two players picked in the recent draft – Weber State OG Paul McQuistan drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round and brother Pat (OT) was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round.
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
