Joaquin Espinoza
MSU Men's Tennis Tabbed Seventh in Big Sky Preseason Poll
1/7/2021 3:34:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU's five returning starters open the season on February 6
BOZEMAN, Montana – Big Sky Conference coaches tabbed Montana State to finish seventh in the nine-team Big Sky Conference men's tennis race this spring, the league announced on Thursday.
The Bobcats finished 5-4 overall, 1-1 in the league, in the truncated 2020 season. MSU beat Portland State before losing to Northern Colorado in Bozeman last March. Five of the Bobcats' six starters last season return in coach Trey Morris' second season at the program's helm, with No. 1 singles (5-4 on the season) and doubles player Nejc Sitar leading the way. Sitar transferred from North Dakota before the 2020 campaign, and finished 5-4 on the team's top ladder spot. The brother of former Bobcat Rok Sitar is a sophomore.
Junior Joaquin Espinoza (5-3 in 2020) returns as MSU's No. 2 singles player, while sophomore Marcos Zelver returns at No. (4-3 last year). Senior Chase Stoner (3-4 at No. 5) and Manuel Monteiro (4-3 at No. 6) bolster the bottom of the team's lineup. Brad Buckland transfers to MSU from Middle Tennessee State, and freshmen Jacob Huppin, Jakob Mosvold, Andrew Suver, and Daan Van Dijk join Montana State's rejuvenated roster.
Northern Arizona and Montana are picked in a tie atop the Big Sky preseason poll, with Weber State, Sacramento State, Portland State and Idaho all tabbed ahead of the Bobcats. Idaho State (eighth) and Eastern Washington (ninth) are picked at the tail end of the league.
The Cats open the 2021 season on February 6 against Pacific University of Oregon and February 7 against Idaho State, both at home.
2021 Big Sky Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
T1. Montana – 58 (4)
T1. Northern Arizona – 58 (3)
3. Weber State – 49
4. Sacramento State – 39 (2)
5. Portland State – 36
6. Idaho – 28
7. Montana State – 24
8. Idaho State – 22
9. Eastern Washington – 10
(#) - First-Place Votes
#GoCatsGo
The Bobcats finished 5-4 overall, 1-1 in the league, in the truncated 2020 season. MSU beat Portland State before losing to Northern Colorado in Bozeman last March. Five of the Bobcats' six starters last season return in coach Trey Morris' second season at the program's helm, with No. 1 singles (5-4 on the season) and doubles player Nejc Sitar leading the way. Sitar transferred from North Dakota before the 2020 campaign, and finished 5-4 on the team's top ladder spot. The brother of former Bobcat Rok Sitar is a sophomore.
Junior Joaquin Espinoza (5-3 in 2020) returns as MSU's No. 2 singles player, while sophomore Marcos Zelver returns at No. (4-3 last year). Senior Chase Stoner (3-4 at No. 5) and Manuel Monteiro (4-3 at No. 6) bolster the bottom of the team's lineup. Brad Buckland transfers to MSU from Middle Tennessee State, and freshmen Jacob Huppin, Jakob Mosvold, Andrew Suver, and Daan Van Dijk join Montana State's rejuvenated roster.
Northern Arizona and Montana are picked in a tie atop the Big Sky preseason poll, with Weber State, Sacramento State, Portland State and Idaho all tabbed ahead of the Bobcats. Idaho State (eighth) and Eastern Washington (ninth) are picked at the tail end of the league.
The Cats open the 2021 season on February 6 against Pacific University of Oregon and February 7 against Idaho State, both at home.
2021 Big Sky Men's Tennis Preseason Poll
T1. Montana – 58 (4)
T1. Northern Arizona – 58 (3)
3. Weber State – 49
4. Sacramento State – 39 (2)
5. Portland State – 36
6. Idaho – 28
7. Montana State – 24
8. Idaho State – 22
9. Eastern Washington – 10
(#) - First-Place Votes
#GoCatsGo
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