Saturday, April 11
Pocatello, ID
10 am
Montana State University
at
Idaho State University
Javier Martin-Morillas and the Cats head to Idaho State Saturday
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
Bobcat Netmen Head to Pocatello for Non-League Contest
4/10/2015 10:10:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Idaho State match serves as tune-up for Cat-Griz, league tourney
Montana State faces a familiar foe in a low-stakes contest Saturday, playing Idaho State in a non-conference contest at Pocatello. The match begins at 10 am.
Saturday's action may not affect the Big Sky Conference standings, but it gives the Bobcats a tune-up heading into the regular season-ending showdown against Montana on April 18. MSU didn't play a collegiate match last weekend.
"We're looking forward to playing and competing," Bobcat coach Jared Burnham said. "This is the group we'll take into the post-season, so it's time to get going. I think we're playing our best tennis at the right time."
While Saturday's match serves to extend some solid play, the stakes and competition level escalates drastically next weekend when the Bobcats host Montana in the Brawl of the Wild series. That match could hold championship implications in the Big Sky Conference – that would be the case if Northern Arizona topples Weber State this Sunday – but will certainly matter in seeding for the league tournament, an event for which both Treasure State schools have qualified.
Still, this weekend's match holds significance. "We want to keep playing well," Burnham said. "We want to work Harry James (who has been injured) back into match shape. We want to be ready for the Grizzlies, and be ready for the Big Sky Championships."
This Week's Action
The Bobcat men's tennis team heads to Pocatello Saturday for the final non-league tune-up of the spring, facing Idaho State in a non-league contest at 10 am. The interlude in Big Sky competition sets the Cats up for a regular season-ending showdown with Montana on April 18 that could go a long way toward deciding the Big Sky Championship. At the very least, seeding for the league tournament hangs in the balance. MSU's No. 4 singles player Harry James continues his return to the lineup after an ankle injury sidelined him for the heart of the conference season.
Bobcat Notebook
Stay Hot
Andre Napoliatano (No. 1 singles) has won 10 of his last 12 singles matches and is 6-3 in Big Sky play. Playing at No. 2 and No. 3, Javier Martin-Morillas has won nine of 11 and is 9-1 in the BSC. Niklas Brandes started out 2-4, but has won six of his last eight.
Sorting Things Out
With only two regular seasons remaining in the Big Sky regular season, much has been decided but much remains to be sorted out regarding the league's post-season. Weber State leads the conference at 6-1, but among its four remaining matches meets 5-3 NAU in Flagstaff on Sunday. MSU, Idaho and Montana all enter this weekend with two league losses, so one Weber State defeat would pull several squads back into the championship conversation. Regardless of seeding, the Big Sky Tournament will begin April 24 at Sacramento State. The Hornets have clinched a spot in the league tournament and have the enormous advantage of hosting the event without having won the league's regular season title.
Jared Burnham
The 2013 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, third-year head coach Jared Burnham has led the Cats to the Big Sky Tournament in each of his first two campaigns in Bozeman. The 1999 Utah State grad led MSU to its first regular season title since 2006 in his first season on the job, 2013, as the Cats finished 9-1 in Big Sky play, 13-8 overall. Burnham served as Weber State's head coach from 2004-12, finishing in the league's top half his last five seasons.
Saturday's action may not affect the Big Sky Conference standings, but it gives the Bobcats a tune-up heading into the regular season-ending showdown against Montana on April 18. MSU didn't play a collegiate match last weekend.
"We're looking forward to playing and competing," Bobcat coach Jared Burnham said. "This is the group we'll take into the post-season, so it's time to get going. I think we're playing our best tennis at the right time."
While Saturday's match serves to extend some solid play, the stakes and competition level escalates drastically next weekend when the Bobcats host Montana in the Brawl of the Wild series. That match could hold championship implications in the Big Sky Conference – that would be the case if Northern Arizona topples Weber State this Sunday – but will certainly matter in seeding for the league tournament, an event for which both Treasure State schools have qualified.
Still, this weekend's match holds significance. "We want to keep playing well," Burnham said. "We want to work Harry James (who has been injured) back into match shape. We want to be ready for the Grizzlies, and be ready for the Big Sky Championships."
This Week's Action
The Bobcat men's tennis team heads to Pocatello Saturday for the final non-league tune-up of the spring, facing Idaho State in a non-league contest at 10 am. The interlude in Big Sky competition sets the Cats up for a regular season-ending showdown with Montana on April 18 that could go a long way toward deciding the Big Sky Championship. At the very least, seeding for the league tournament hangs in the balance. MSU's No. 4 singles player Harry James continues his return to the lineup after an ankle injury sidelined him for the heart of the conference season.
Bobcat Notebook
Stay Hot
Andre Napoliatano (No. 1 singles) has won 10 of his last 12 singles matches and is 6-3 in Big Sky play. Playing at No. 2 and No. 3, Javier Martin-Morillas has won nine of 11 and is 9-1 in the BSC. Niklas Brandes started out 2-4, but has won six of his last eight.
Sorting Things Out
With only two regular seasons remaining in the Big Sky regular season, much has been decided but much remains to be sorted out regarding the league's post-season. Weber State leads the conference at 6-1, but among its four remaining matches meets 5-3 NAU in Flagstaff on Sunday. MSU, Idaho and Montana all enter this weekend with two league losses, so one Weber State defeat would pull several squads back into the championship conversation. Regardless of seeding, the Big Sky Tournament will begin April 24 at Sacramento State. The Hornets have clinched a spot in the league tournament and have the enormous advantage of hosting the event without having won the league's regular season title.
Jared Burnham
The 2013 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, third-year head coach Jared Burnham has led the Cats to the Big Sky Tournament in each of his first two campaigns in Bozeman. The 1999 Utah State grad led MSU to its first regular season title since 2006 in his first season on the job, 2013, as the Cats finished 9-1 in Big Sky play, 13-8 overall. Burnham served as Weber State's head coach from 2004-12, finishing in the league's top half his last five seasons.
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