Friday, March 20
Missoula, MT
2 pm
Montana State University
at
Montana
MSU plays at Montana Friday
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcats Battle Montana in Non-League Match Friday
3/20/2015 3:26:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU faces weekend without No. 4 player Harry James
The difference, really, is an asterisk.
"A teeny bit maybe," said Montana State men's tennis coach Jared Burnham when asked if playing in-state rival Montana in a non-conference match is different than lining up with conference standings at stake. "But not very much. There's really no difference when the kids start playing. It's still intense."
The Bobcats face Montana on Friday afternoon in Missoula (2 pm), the first of two meetings between the schools this season. Friday's non-league match precedes the April 18 regular season finale in Bozeman, a conference contest.
The timing may prove fortuitous for the Cats, who likely faces powerful Montana today without No. 4 singles player Harry James on Friday. While awaiting James' late-season return, the Bobcats press forward with sophomore Aaron Farmer entering the lineup at No. 6. That pushes Kellen Bates to No. 4, and Dylan Harvala to No. 5.
MSU endured its worst loss since the season opener in its last match, a 6-1 defeat by Idaho in Spokane on March 14. The day before, the Bobcats racked up a crucial 4-3 win at Eastern Washington. Those two matches, MSU's most recent before Friday, has the team continuing to hold a share of first place. Idaho, like the Bobcats, stand 6-1 in league play after a loss at NAU.
Burnham said success in the team's difficult remaining schedule likely comes down to its strength throughout the season. "We've been pretty steady one through four," he said. "That's been our strength. We need to keep that going."
After Friday's match at Montana, MSU hosts Weber State on Sunday at 10 am at the MSU tennis complex.
"A teeny bit maybe," said Montana State men's tennis coach Jared Burnham when asked if playing in-state rival Montana in a non-conference match is different than lining up with conference standings at stake. "But not very much. There's really no difference when the kids start playing. It's still intense."
The Bobcats face Montana on Friday afternoon in Missoula (2 pm), the first of two meetings between the schools this season. Friday's non-league match precedes the April 18 regular season finale in Bozeman, a conference contest.
The timing may prove fortuitous for the Cats, who likely faces powerful Montana today without No. 4 singles player Harry James on Friday. While awaiting James' late-season return, the Bobcats press forward with sophomore Aaron Farmer entering the lineup at No. 6. That pushes Kellen Bates to No. 4, and Dylan Harvala to No. 5.
MSU endured its worst loss since the season opener in its last match, a 6-1 defeat by Idaho in Spokane on March 14. The day before, the Bobcats racked up a crucial 4-3 win at Eastern Washington. Those two matches, MSU's most recent before Friday, has the team continuing to hold a share of first place. Idaho, like the Bobcats, stand 6-1 in league play after a loss at NAU.
Burnham said success in the team's difficult remaining schedule likely comes down to its strength throughout the season. "We've been pretty steady one through four," he said. "That's been our strength. We need to keep that going."
After Friday's match at Montana, MSU hosts Weber State on Sunday at 10 am at the MSU tennis complex.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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