Friday, April 22
10 am
Montana State University
at
at Southern Utah
Kellen Bates
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcat Netters Head South for Final Tune-Up Before Big Sky Tourney
4/20/2016 4:36:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Montana State faces SUU, NAU on weekend road swing
Between the emotion of clinching a post-season berth last week and the excitement of the Big Sky Championships next week, Montana State faces its final regular season weekend with a Friday match at Southern Utah and a Saturday showdown with Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.
"I think we're at the point of our season and the guys' games are at the point where there shouldn't be a letdown," MSU coach Jared Burnham said in regards to finishing the regular season with the Big Sky Tournament on the immediate horizon. "You always worry about dumb stuff like that as a coach, but its up to the players to play and I think they'll do a good job this weekend."
The Cats play Southern Utah first, a 10 am match on Friday that pits MSU against an 0-16 Southern Utah team that is 0-10 in Big Sky play. SUU players have combined for two singles wins against Big Sky competition, one each by Ryan Andris (at No. 3) and Ben Yeacker (at No. 6).
After Friday's match, the Bobcats travel to Flagstaff, Ariz., for a Saturday afternoon contest against a Northern Arizona squad that enters its final match of the regular season with a 7-3 Big Sky record, 11-11 overall. An NAU win could boost the Lumberjacks past Sacramento State and Montana into third place in the regular season standings, likely setting up a first round Big Sky Tournament rematch with the Cats. A Bobcat victory on both ends could push the team from sixth into fifth or fourth.
Senior Harry James and sophomore Rok Sitar continue to pace the Bobcats, each with a 9-7 record in singles play. Sitar is 8-1 in Big Sky action, while James is 7-2. Kellen Bates, a junior, has equally impressive credentials. Playing most of the season at No. 1 singles, he is 4-4 against the Big Sky's top players.
"We just have to go play," Burnham said. "The travel won't be a problem. I think the guys have gotten a lot better at focusing on what's important. We were a really young team when the season started, but with almost a whole season in everyone has experience. I'm excited with how the last few weeks have gone, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they finish."
"I think we're at the point of our season and the guys' games are at the point where there shouldn't be a letdown," MSU coach Jared Burnham said in regards to finishing the regular season with the Big Sky Tournament on the immediate horizon. "You always worry about dumb stuff like that as a coach, but its up to the players to play and I think they'll do a good job this weekend."
The Cats play Southern Utah first, a 10 am match on Friday that pits MSU against an 0-16 Southern Utah team that is 0-10 in Big Sky play. SUU players have combined for two singles wins against Big Sky competition, one each by Ryan Andris (at No. 3) and Ben Yeacker (at No. 6).
After Friday's match, the Bobcats travel to Flagstaff, Ariz., for a Saturday afternoon contest against a Northern Arizona squad that enters its final match of the regular season with a 7-3 Big Sky record, 11-11 overall. An NAU win could boost the Lumberjacks past Sacramento State and Montana into third place in the regular season standings, likely setting up a first round Big Sky Tournament rematch with the Cats. A Bobcat victory on both ends could push the team from sixth into fifth or fourth.
Senior Harry James and sophomore Rok Sitar continue to pace the Bobcats, each with a 9-7 record in singles play. Sitar is 8-1 in Big Sky action, while James is 7-2. Kellen Bates, a junior, has equally impressive credentials. Playing most of the season at No. 1 singles, he is 4-4 against the Big Sky's top players.
"We just have to go play," Burnham said. "The travel won't be a problem. I think the guys have gotten a lot better at focusing on what's important. We were a really young team when the season started, but with almost a whole season in everyone has experience. I'm excited with how the last few weeks have gone, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they finish."
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