Saturday, January 16
6:30 pm
Montana State University
at
at Boise State
Bobcat senior Harry James
Bobcat Netmen Open 2016 in Boise
1/16/2016 9:18:00 AM | Men's Tennis
MSU faces regional powers Boise State, Grand Canyon
Jared Burnham's 2016 Bobcat men's tennis team faces a lot of uncertainty when it opens its season this weekend in Boise. The Cats welcome four new starters to the seven-man rotation, including a nearly-complete rebuild of the doubles pairings.
But Burnham is certain of one thing.
"We're playing two really good teams," he says of his team's matchups with Boise State on Saturday and Grand Canyon on Sunday. "They'll be two of the better teams we play all season. They're both really close to being top 75 teams."
The Bobcats are led into 2016 by Harry James, the team's only senior, who is likely to occupy the third ladder spot in singles competition. James' presence in the lineup is buttressed by junior Kellen Bates and sophomore Dylan Harvala. All three spent much of 2015 in MSU's lineup.
It is his team's four newcomers that Burnham is most anxious to watch perform this weekend. Sophomore Rok Sitar arrived from Louisiana-Lafayette at the semester, and is slotted near the top of MSU's lineup. Freshmen Mateus Ceolin (Jundiai, Brazil), Charles Edgecombe (Melbourne, Australia) and Alexander Flink (Stockholm, Sweden) each factor in.
The question is where. "We'll see," Burnham says. "All seven guys will travel, and they'll all play. I hope we play well, but I don't think energy or focus will be an issue. We're young, but if we play like we practice we'll be OK."
Burnham said that Flink, Bates, James and Sitar are the likely top four in the order. "After that we'll mix and match," he said.
After this weekend the Bobcats return to the practice courts until traveling to Utah and Utah State the first weekend of February.
But Burnham is certain of one thing.
"We're playing two really good teams," he says of his team's matchups with Boise State on Saturday and Grand Canyon on Sunday. "They'll be two of the better teams we play all season. They're both really close to being top 75 teams."
The Bobcats are led into 2016 by Harry James, the team's only senior, who is likely to occupy the third ladder spot in singles competition. James' presence in the lineup is buttressed by junior Kellen Bates and sophomore Dylan Harvala. All three spent much of 2015 in MSU's lineup.
It is his team's four newcomers that Burnham is most anxious to watch perform this weekend. Sophomore Rok Sitar arrived from Louisiana-Lafayette at the semester, and is slotted near the top of MSU's lineup. Freshmen Mateus Ceolin (Jundiai, Brazil), Charles Edgecombe (Melbourne, Australia) and Alexander Flink (Stockholm, Sweden) each factor in.
The question is where. "We'll see," Burnham says. "All seven guys will travel, and they'll all play. I hope we play well, but I don't think energy or focus will be an issue. We're young, but if we play like we practice we'll be OK."
Burnham said that Flink, Bates, James and Sitar are the likely top four in the order. "After that we'll mix and match," he said.
After this weekend the Bobcats return to the practice courts until traveling to Utah and Utah State the first weekend of February.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Thursday, February 13
Wednesday, April 05
Wednesday, April 17
Monday, March 25
