Joaquin Espinoza
Bobcat Men's Tennis Team Competes in Closed Scrimmage Saturday
11/6/2020 3:29:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU's 2021 squad mixes it up on Saturday
BOZEMAN, Montana – In a fall semester when nothing is normal, Montana State men's tennis coach Trey Morris is hoping to find just that on Saturday. His Bobcat squad divides into two units for a closed intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday afternoon that the second-year coach hopes will create a sense of normalcy.
"We want to create a normal match setting, where they can get their competitive nature going," Morris said of his top priority for the Saturday's event. "When you have a fall like this when there is no competition, it gives the opportunity to say, 'What do I really need to work on? What do I really need to improve on?' Honestly, it's been great to have a two-and-a-half month training where we can break down those walls a little bit and not constantly think about how are we going to play on the weekend but just focus on getting better. So in that way it's kind of a blessing in disguise, if you will."
Montana State's 2021 roster features returning lettermen Chase Stoner, the team's only senior, junior Joaquin Espinoza, sophomores Nejc Sitar and Marcos Zelver, and redshirt freshman Manuel Monteiro. Joining those proven talents are freshman Bradley Buckland, who transfers from Middle Tennessee State, along with new freshmen Jacob Huppin, Jakob Mosvold and Andrew Suver.
The Bobcats stood 5-4 when the season was terminated last spring. Espinoza (5-3), Monteiro (5-3), and Sitar each had five wins at that point. Six players recorded either four or five wins last spring, and five of them return.
Without a fall season, Morris said that the team has developed a strong bond. "This unusual fall has enabled the team to get really close to each other," Morris said. "When there's not a lot of distractions on campus, and with Covid (limiting social interactions), a lot of the guys are staying home and spending more time just with each other, so I think there's been an opportunity for the younger guys to mesh well with the team. From what I've heard from the players this team is closer than in years past."
Even without intercollegiate competition, Morris is pleased with the evolution of his team's play. "This fall has given them a chance to play and to get to a good place on the court, as well," he said. "The opportunity for more training sessions without a lot of travel and the outside competition has helped with the development. The downside of not playing outside competition is that I don't know how well they compete outside of the team. You always have players that practice better than others, players that rise to the occasion against outside competition, and I don't know who those guys are yet."
Morris hopes that Saturday's play gives his team a benchmark as it begins preparing for a spring campaign. "I'm excited to see them play," he said.
BLUE TEAM: Manuel Monteiro (fr., Porto, Portugal) Jakob Mosvold (fr., Houston, Texas), Nejc Sitar (so., Moribor, Slovenia), Chase Stoner (sr., Salt Lake City, Utah), Andrew Suver (fr., Seattle, Washington). Coach – Trey Morris
GOLD TEAM: Bradley Buckland (fr, Nottingham, England), Joaquin Espinoza (jr., La Paz, Bolivia), Jacob Huppin (fr., Spokane, Washington), Marcos Zelver (so., Bozeman, Montana). Coach – Max Petrak
#GoCatsGo
"We want to create a normal match setting, where they can get their competitive nature going," Morris said of his top priority for the Saturday's event. "When you have a fall like this when there is no competition, it gives the opportunity to say, 'What do I really need to work on? What do I really need to improve on?' Honestly, it's been great to have a two-and-a-half month training where we can break down those walls a little bit and not constantly think about how are we going to play on the weekend but just focus on getting better. So in that way it's kind of a blessing in disguise, if you will."
Montana State's 2021 roster features returning lettermen Chase Stoner, the team's only senior, junior Joaquin Espinoza, sophomores Nejc Sitar and Marcos Zelver, and redshirt freshman Manuel Monteiro. Joining those proven talents are freshman Bradley Buckland, who transfers from Middle Tennessee State, along with new freshmen Jacob Huppin, Jakob Mosvold and Andrew Suver.
The Bobcats stood 5-4 when the season was terminated last spring. Espinoza (5-3), Monteiro (5-3), and Sitar each had five wins at that point. Six players recorded either four or five wins last spring, and five of them return.
Without a fall season, Morris said that the team has developed a strong bond. "This unusual fall has enabled the team to get really close to each other," Morris said. "When there's not a lot of distractions on campus, and with Covid (limiting social interactions), a lot of the guys are staying home and spending more time just with each other, so I think there's been an opportunity for the younger guys to mesh well with the team. From what I've heard from the players this team is closer than in years past."
Even without intercollegiate competition, Morris is pleased with the evolution of his team's play. "This fall has given them a chance to play and to get to a good place on the court, as well," he said. "The opportunity for more training sessions without a lot of travel and the outside competition has helped with the development. The downside of not playing outside competition is that I don't know how well they compete outside of the team. You always have players that practice better than others, players that rise to the occasion against outside competition, and I don't know who those guys are yet."
Morris hopes that Saturday's play gives his team a benchmark as it begins preparing for a spring campaign. "I'm excited to see them play," he said.
BLUE TEAM: Manuel Monteiro (fr., Porto, Portugal) Jakob Mosvold (fr., Houston, Texas), Nejc Sitar (so., Moribor, Slovenia), Chase Stoner (sr., Salt Lake City, Utah), Andrew Suver (fr., Seattle, Washington). Coach – Trey Morris
GOLD TEAM: Bradley Buckland (fr, Nottingham, England), Joaquin Espinoza (jr., La Paz, Bolivia), Jacob Huppin (fr., Spokane, Washington), Marcos Zelver (so., Bozeman, Montana). Coach – Max Petrak
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ 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
