Saturday, March 7
Grand Forks, ND
5 pm
Montana State University
at
North Dakota
Doubles tandem Niklas Brandes (foreground) and Javier Martin-Morillas
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Netmen Visit North Dakota to Launch Crucial Four-Match Stretch
3/6/2015 4:37:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Improving UND poses test for Cats
Montana State men's tennis coach Jared Burnham has his focus trained exactly where he expects his team to show the most improvement as the Bobcats enter a crucial four-match stretch of their Big Sky Conference season.
"We're applying better in doubles," Burnham said of his squad, which plays at North Dakota Saturday at 4 pm MT. "We're starting to get some consistency, things are starting to click. But I want to see the improvement continue."
The Cats face a UND squad standing 3-3 overall with a loss in its only league contest, to Portland State. Burnham calls North Dakota "an improved team from last year. We handled them here last year, but I expect a tough match. They've lost some close matches, and a couple of their experienced players are playing better."
Kellen Bates and Harry James have played a preponderance of their matches at No. 2 doubles this year, rolling up a 6-3 record (6-1 at No. 2, 0-2 at No. 1). Seniors Niklas Brandes and Javier Martin-Morillas stand 4-4 on the season. After taking the doubles point in 11 of 18 matches in 2014, the Bobcats dropped the doubles point three of the first four times out of the gate this year. Burnham said that's natural with only one holdover team from a year ago.
"It's a chore," he said of getting new doubles units playing in synch. "With most freshmen and sophomores it's a new experience. In singles it's 'See ball, chase ball,' but in doubles there is timing to work out. It takes time."
One player arriving on time in singles play is sophomore Andre Napoliatano, a transfer from Texas Tech. The native Brazilian has captured five straight singles matches, all at No. 1. His five singles victories is second-most in the Big Sky. "Andre's getting used to things," Burnham said. "He's making the transition from clay court to hard court, and from low altitude to high altitude. The ball moves a little quicker and he needs to keep his brain on the court the whole match, but he's making great progress."
After Saturday's match the Bobcats return home to host Southern Utah on Tuesday at 12 noon. MSU then heads west to play two of the league's top teams. MSU visits Eastern Washington Friday, March 13, at 3 pm, then battles league favorite Idaho at Gonzaga on Saturday at 9 am.
"We're applying better in doubles," Burnham said of his squad, which plays at North Dakota Saturday at 4 pm MT. "We're starting to get some consistency, things are starting to click. But I want to see the improvement continue."
The Cats face a UND squad standing 3-3 overall with a loss in its only league contest, to Portland State. Burnham calls North Dakota "an improved team from last year. We handled them here last year, but I expect a tough match. They've lost some close matches, and a couple of their experienced players are playing better."
Kellen Bates and Harry James have played a preponderance of their matches at No. 2 doubles this year, rolling up a 6-3 record (6-1 at No. 2, 0-2 at No. 1). Seniors Niklas Brandes and Javier Martin-Morillas stand 4-4 on the season. After taking the doubles point in 11 of 18 matches in 2014, the Bobcats dropped the doubles point three of the first four times out of the gate this year. Burnham said that's natural with only one holdover team from a year ago.
"It's a chore," he said of getting new doubles units playing in synch. "With most freshmen and sophomores it's a new experience. In singles it's 'See ball, chase ball,' but in doubles there is timing to work out. It takes time."
One player arriving on time in singles play is sophomore Andre Napoliatano, a transfer from Texas Tech. The native Brazilian has captured five straight singles matches, all at No. 1. His five singles victories is second-most in the Big Sky. "Andre's getting used to things," Burnham said. "He's making the transition from clay court to hard court, and from low altitude to high altitude. The ball moves a little quicker and he needs to keep his brain on the court the whole match, but he's making great progress."
After Saturday's match the Bobcats return home to host Southern Utah on Tuesday at 12 noon. MSU then heads west to play two of the league's top teams. MSU visits Eastern Washington Friday, March 13, at 3 pm, then battles league favorite Idaho at Gonzaga on Saturday at 9 am.
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