Nejc Sitar Leads Bobcat Men's Tennis Team to Two Wins at North Dakota

Friday, February 25

Grand Forks, ND

5 pm

Montana State University

North Dakota

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

Nejc Sitar Leads Bobcat Men's Tennis Team to Two Wins at North Dakota

2/26/2022 10:03:00 PM | Men's Tennis

MSU wins two weekend matches

By: Bill Lamberty

College football fans generally experience Homecoming in the fall. Bobcat men's tennis player Nejc Sitar experienced his this weekend.

The Montana State junior clinched two Bobcat victories in the building he once called home, winning a pair of emotional three-set matches after dropping the first set in both. The Bobcats beat North Dakota, where Sitar played in 2018-19 and won Summit League Newcomer of the Year honors, 4-3 on Friday and Omaha 5-2 on Saturday

"Clinching two matches this weekend was amazing," Sitar said on Instagram after the two wins. "This facility and this town, I have such good memories here from my freshman year, but I couldn't be more grateful to be a Bobcat. To get these two wins with this team is great."

The Bobcats won the doubles point for the first time in several weeks against Omaha on Saturday, and when Joaquin Espinoza won easily at No. 6 and Daan Van Dijk won when his opponent retired, MSU Led 3-0. Omaha won at No. 1 singles, but Sitar sealed the win with his comeback effort at No. 5.

Friday's match bounced back and forth. North Dakota captured the doubles point, but Daan Van Dijk countered with a win at No. 2 singles. After the Fighting Hawks won at No. 3 singles, Joaquin Espinoza continued his hot play with a victory at No. 6 to pull the Cats even. Brad Buckland won at No. 4, and a UND win at No. 1 set up Sitar's heroics.

"Our guys continue to get better, and this weekend is a great sign of things to come," said Bobcat coach Trey Morris "Our guys are doing the little things on and off the court. We are very excited to a week of practice and another opportunity to get better next weekend."

The Bobcats now stand 10-3 on the season, and travel to Boise for a pair of matches next weekend. MSU plays at Boise State on Friday at 12 noon before facing Pacific (California) on Saturday at 11 am.

Montana State 5, Omaha 2
4 pm CT on 2-26-22 at Grand Forks, North Dakota (Choice Health & Fitness)
SINGLES
1. Matt Hulme (UNO) def. Matej Panik (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Daan Van Dijk (MSU) def. Davis Lawley (UNO) 5-4, retired
3. Mikhail Korkunov (UNO) def. Jamieson Nathan (MSU) 3-6, 7-6, 6-1
4. Brad Buckland (MSU) vs. Todd Chen (UNO) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
5. Nejc Sitar (MSU) vs. Hugo Piles (UNO) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
6. Joaquin Espinoza (MSU) def. Alvaro Quintana (UNO) 6-4, 6-3

DOUBLES
1. Matej Panik/Daan Van Dijk (MSU) def. Ethan Henry/Matt Hulme (UNO) 7-5
2. Hugo Piles/Davis Lawley (UNO) def. Jamieson Nathan/Georgios Nouchakis (MSU) 6-4
3. Brad Buckland/Marcos Zelver (MSU) def. Mikhail Korkunov/Cameron Luhring (UNO) 6-4

Records: Montana State 10-3, Omaha 5-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,2,1,5,3,4)

Montana State 4, North Dakota 3
5 pm CT on 2-25-22 at Grand Forks, North Dakota (Choice Health & Fitness)

SINGLES
1. Gerhard Sullwald (UND) def. Matej Panik (MSU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Daan Van Dijk (MSU) def. Edmond Aynedjian (UND) 6-1, 6-2
3. Cian McDonnell (UND) def. Jamieson Nathan (MSU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Brad Buckland (MSU) def. Riley Odell (UND) 6-3, 6-3
5. Nejc Sitar (MSU) def. Nikita Snezhko (UND) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Joaquin Espinoza (MSU) def. Dylan Leeman (UND) 6-1, 6-2

DOUBLES
1. Nikita Snezhko/Gerhard Sullwald (UND) def. Matej Panik/Daan Van Dijk (MSU) 7-6
2. Cian McDonnell/Edmond Aynedjian (UND) def. Brad Buckland/Nejc Sitar (MSU) 6-4
3. Jamieson Nathan/Marcos Zelver (MSU) def. Riley Odell/Dylan Leeman (UND) 7-5

Records: Montana State 9-3, North Dakota 5-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,6,4,1,5)