Saturday, February 21
Bozeman, MT
5 p.m.
Montana State University
vs
Montana State University-Billings
Harry James and the Bobcats host MSU B Saturday, Utags Sunday
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Host MSU B, Utah State in Weekend Men's Tennis Matches
2/20/2015 4:45:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Cats look to stay hot
Montana State men's tennis coach Jared Burnham meets his team's two matches this weekend with conflicting emotions.
Saturday, the Bobcats face "an interesting match," hosting MSU Billings for the final time in the Anderson-Bobcat Tennis Center at 5 pm. Sunday, Burnham's Bobcats meet his alma mater, Utah State, for what he said should be a "rowdy, intense" match at 9 am.
The MSU B announced prior to the season that this will be its last competing in men's and women's tennis, leaving Saturday's match as the final competition in the sport between the sister institutions. "I'm sad for the players and coaches at MSU Billings, I'm sad for college tennis, and for tennis in the state of Montana," he said. Saturday marks MSU B's first match of the spring.
Sunday, a Utah State squad ranked among the nation's top 75 teams as recently as two weeks ago invades MSU's tennis complex. "They're very good, and very vocal," Burnham said. "We'll need to play well, and we'll need to play focused. I think the opposition will help with that."
The Bobcats enter Sunday's match on a bit of a roll. The Cats have stand 3-3 on the season, but those wins have come in the team's last four outings and include a pair of conference victories. While MSU's veterans continue to excel, Burnham cited the play of newcomers as central to the team's recent surge. Kellen Bates is 3-3 on the season, and Burnham likes the competitiveness he's seen from the Indiana transfer originally from Kalispell.
"Kellen has battled in some interesting matches," Burnam said. "He's gone three sets in his last two matches. I like what he's giving us."
Texas Tech transfer Andre Napoliatano has also provided a spark. He lost his first three matches of the season, but has won the last two, including a match against Portland State that helped the Cats seal a league win.
Saturday, the Bobcats face "an interesting match," hosting MSU Billings for the final time in the Anderson-Bobcat Tennis Center at 5 pm. Sunday, Burnham's Bobcats meet his alma mater, Utah State, for what he said should be a "rowdy, intense" match at 9 am.
The MSU B announced prior to the season that this will be its last competing in men's and women's tennis, leaving Saturday's match as the final competition in the sport between the sister institutions. "I'm sad for the players and coaches at MSU Billings, I'm sad for college tennis, and for tennis in the state of Montana," he said. Saturday marks MSU B's first match of the spring.
Sunday, a Utah State squad ranked among the nation's top 75 teams as recently as two weeks ago invades MSU's tennis complex. "They're very good, and very vocal," Burnham said. "We'll need to play well, and we'll need to play focused. I think the opposition will help with that."
The Bobcats enter Sunday's match on a bit of a roll. The Cats have stand 3-3 on the season, but those wins have come in the team's last four outings and include a pair of conference victories. While MSU's veterans continue to excel, Burnham cited the play of newcomers as central to the team's recent surge. Kellen Bates is 3-3 on the season, and Burnham likes the competitiveness he's seen from the Indiana transfer originally from Kalispell.
"Kellen has battled in some interesting matches," Burnam said. "He's gone three sets in his last two matches. I like what he's giving us."
Texas Tech transfer Andre Napoliatano has also provided a spark. He lost his first three matches of the season, but has won the last two, including a match against Portland State that helped the Cats seal a league win.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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