Friday, April 18
Bozeman, MT
Montana State University
vs
Eastern Washington
Kenny Dodd is one of three Bobcats playing their final home match Friday
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcat Tennis Team Hosts EWU Friday
4/17/2014 10:03:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU looks for strong finish to regular season
Montana State's sprint to the finish line hits the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center for one final time on Friday afternoon, when the Bobcat men's tennis team hosts Eastern Washington in a crucial conference Friday afternoon at 1 pm. MSU closes the regular season Sunday at Montana.
That Friday's Senior Day festivities coincide with a math that will play a key role in sorting out the Big Sky Conference's final standings is appropriate, as the three Bobcat seniors taking the court Friday have helped reinvigorate a once-dominant program. Diego Campos, Kenny Dodd and Markus Schleuter helped lead the Cats to a Big Sky regular season title as juniors, and this year the Bobcats have clinched a slot in the league tourney and enter the season's final weekend with a shot at second place.
"It's a great group of guys," says second-year Bobcat coach Jared Burnham. "The three of them have different personalities and different games, but they all work hard and want to win. And they all have fun. This group of seniors has represented Montana State very well."
The Bobcats, 6-2 and one game behind Montana with a season-ending Cat-Griz match ahead on Sunday, finished 9-1 in league play last year to share the championship with Sacramento State. MSU snapped a seven-year dry spell against the Hornets this spring, and Burnham says this year's squad has plenty to play for.
"You want to be playing well going into the conference tournament," which this season begins next Thursday in Sacramento. "It would be nice to have a bye (which is awarded to the top two seeds), and we always want to beat the Grizzlies. This is a big weekend for us."
Friday's match sets up a series of competitive contests. At No. 1 singles, MSU's Niklas Brandes has won five straight matches, earning two Big Sky Player of the Week honors twice in the last three weeks, and enters weekend play as a serious force in the conference. He likely faces EWU's Robert Dula (10-9 overall, 5-3 in Big Sky play) on Friday and UM's Mikolaj Caruk (9-10 overall, 5-3 in the league) Sunday. Brandes is 9-6 overall, 5-1 in conference action.
"Nik is playing very well right now," Burnham said. "He just needs to go out and play. He just goes out and competes and wins."
MSU's three seniors play a huge role in the program's success. Campos is 6-8, although a series of injuries has dropped him to fourth or fifth in the lineup and limited his durability and stamina. Schleuter is 8-8, 4-3 in the conference, and has competed very well in the No. 2 position. Kenny Dodd has been marvelous at No. 6 throughout the season, with a 6-7 mark.
After MSU's 1 pm match against Eastern Washington on Friday, the Bobcats play at Montana on Sunday. Match time is 2 pm.
That Friday's Senior Day festivities coincide with a math that will play a key role in sorting out the Big Sky Conference's final standings is appropriate, as the three Bobcat seniors taking the court Friday have helped reinvigorate a once-dominant program. Diego Campos, Kenny Dodd and Markus Schleuter helped lead the Cats to a Big Sky regular season title as juniors, and this year the Bobcats have clinched a slot in the league tourney and enter the season's final weekend with a shot at second place.
"It's a great group of guys," says second-year Bobcat coach Jared Burnham. "The three of them have different personalities and different games, but they all work hard and want to win. And they all have fun. This group of seniors has represented Montana State very well."
The Bobcats, 6-2 and one game behind Montana with a season-ending Cat-Griz match ahead on Sunday, finished 9-1 in league play last year to share the championship with Sacramento State. MSU snapped a seven-year dry spell against the Hornets this spring, and Burnham says this year's squad has plenty to play for.
"You want to be playing well going into the conference tournament," which this season begins next Thursday in Sacramento. "It would be nice to have a bye (which is awarded to the top two seeds), and we always want to beat the Grizzlies. This is a big weekend for us."
Friday's match sets up a series of competitive contests. At No. 1 singles, MSU's Niklas Brandes has won five straight matches, earning two Big Sky Player of the Week honors twice in the last three weeks, and enters weekend play as a serious force in the conference. He likely faces EWU's Robert Dula (10-9 overall, 5-3 in Big Sky play) on Friday and UM's Mikolaj Caruk (9-10 overall, 5-3 in the league) Sunday. Brandes is 9-6 overall, 5-1 in conference action.
"Nik is playing very well right now," Burnham said. "He just needs to go out and play. He just goes out and competes and wins."
MSU's three seniors play a huge role in the program's success. Campos is 6-8, although a series of injuries has dropped him to fourth or fifth in the lineup and limited his durability and stamina. Schleuter is 8-8, 4-3 in the conference, and has competed very well in the No. 2 position. Kenny Dodd has been marvelous at No. 6 throughout the season, with a 6-7 mark.
After MSU's 1 pm match against Eastern Washington on Friday, the Bobcats play at Montana on Sunday. Match time is 2 pm.
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