Bobcats Top NAU to Cap Impressive Weekend

Sunday, March 29

Bozeman, MT

10 am

Montana State University

Northern Arizona

Harry James' return sparked the Bobcats on Sunday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

3/29/2015 5:10:00 PM | Men's Tennis

MSU sweeps league leaders to move within a match from top of Big Sky

By: Bill Lamberty

It may not have been Willis Reed limping onto the court to begin the 1971 NBA Finals, exactly, but Harry James' presence in Montana State's lineup Sunday was big.

"It made all the difference," Bobcat coach Jared Burnham said after Montana State upended league-leading Northern Arizona 5-2 in Big Sky men's tennis action. The match was the Bobcat junior's first match in two weeks due to an ankle injury, and his return helped MSU cap an impressive weekend home sweep of NAU and Sacramento State.

"He played on a bad ankle and was limping," Burnham said, "but I don't remember him missing a shot. I think he hit every shot he got to."

James teamed with freshman Dylan Harvala for a 6-0 doubles win. Combined with a 6-1 win by Andre Napoliatano and Kellen Bates, the Bobcats captured the doubles point. With the spark from James, the Cats rolled up four singles victories to capture the match.

Napoliatano won 6-0, 7-5 at No. 1, then Javier Martin-Morillas won 7-6, 6-1 at No. 2. Niklas Brandes won his third straight match at No. 3 to seal MSU's win, and for good measure Aaron Farmer won at No. 6.

Montana State's win nearly cements the Bobcats' spot in the Big Sky Tournament, and also vaults the team near the top of the league standings. MSU is 8-2 in conference play, and only Weber State has fewer losses (one). The Bobcats play an alumni match on April 3, then travels to Idaho State for non-league action on April 11. The Cats finish the 2015 regular season by hosting Montana in the Brawl of the Wild Series on April 18.

Montana State 5, Northern Arizona 2
March 29, 2015 – Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center – Bozeman, MT

Singles competition
1. NAPOLIATANO, Andre (MSU) def. GOBATIE, Jordan (NAU) 6-0, 7-5
2. MARTIN-MORILLAS, J. (MSU) def. PELEG, Eden (NAU) 7-6, 6-1
3. BRANDES, Niklas (MSU) def. LOCCI, Alexandre (NAU) 6-4, 7-5
4. BLACK, Kester (NAU) def. BATES, Kellen (MSU) 5-3, 6-7, 10-6
5. SCHUMANN, Felix (NAU) def. HARVALA, Dylan (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
6. FARMER, Aaron (MSU) def. ZILBERSTEIN, Adi (NAU) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. LOCCI, Alexandre/GOBATIE, Jordan (NAU) vs. BRANDES, Niklas/MARTIN-MORILLAS, J. (MSU) no result
2. BATES, Kellen/NAPOLIATANO, Andre (MSU) def. SCHUMANN, Felix/PELEG, Eden (NAU) 6-1
3. HARVALA, Dylan/JAMES, Harry (MSU) def. ZILBERSTEIN, Adi/BLACK, Kester (NAU) 6-0

Records: Northern Arizona 5-10/5-2 Big Sky, Montana State 10-7/8-2 Big Sky
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,5,6)