Friday, April 1
Bozeman, MT
3 pm
Montana State University
vs
Northern Arizona
Bobcat Men's Tennis Team Hosts Reigning Big Sky Champ NAU on Friday at 3 pm
3/31/2022 2:58:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Montana State looks to remain in the thick of a league title chase
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State men's tennis coach Trey Morris knows that handling failure is crucial to the long-term success of any athlete or team.
But so is handling success.
That remains the task at hand for the Bobcats on Friday, when league-leading MSU hosts two-time defending Big Sky Champion Northern Arizona in a crucial conference contest on Friday at 3 pm in the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center. The Bobcats lead the league with a 4-0 mark (Montana is 3-0), while the Lumberjacks enter weekend play 2-1.
The Bobcats focus on one key factor in terms of handling the success 2022 has brought to this point, and the expectations moving forward. "Stay in the moment," he says. "I think our guys have done a great job remaining focused on the present. They're not looking behind them, where the program's been, and they're not looking at the future. They show up every day focused on having a great practice that day, on getting better that day. The only time you can get better is in the present."
Were the Bobcats to look backward in time, they'd see a Northern Arizona program that has dominated the league in recent seasons. The Lumberjacks won the Big Sky in both 2021 and 2019, the last two complete conference seasons. Senior Facundo Tumosa returns as NAU's No. 1 player after helping his team by winning both his doubles and singles matches in last season's championship match.
Were the Bobcats to look ahead, they'd see an intense and wide-open chase for the Big Sky regular season title. Montana State and UM remain unbeaten, while three other teams – Idaho State at 3-1, NAU, and Idaho at 1-1 – stand with one league loss. Only 0-6 Eastern Washington is eliminated from Big Sky Tournament play, with features the top six of the league's nine squads.
By focusing on each day as its own opportunity, Morris said, the Bobcats have gained valuable experience while moving to the top of the league's standings with four matches remaining. "Marcos (Zelver) and Nejc (Sitar) and Jay (Joaquin Espinoza) and Daan (Van Dijk), they know what it means to play important Big Sky matches. But now Matej (Panik) and Brad (Buckland) and Jamo (Jamieson Nathan) have been through that this year, too. They have experienced important Big Sky weekends."
Morris knows his team is in for a stern test Friday. "NAU's recent history is that it's a really good program," he said. "Coach (Maciej) Bogusz has done a great job with that team. We saw them a little in the fall, they had a doubles team at Nationals like we did, and we know what they're all about, know what to expect. I know our guys will be excited and ready for an important Big Sky weekend."
After Friday's match, the Cats visit Idaho on April 10 and host Sacramento State on April 14. The regular season concludes with the annual Cat-Griz showdown on April 23 in Bozeman.
#GoCatsGo
But so is handling success.
That remains the task at hand for the Bobcats on Friday, when league-leading MSU hosts two-time defending Big Sky Champion Northern Arizona in a crucial conference contest on Friday at 3 pm in the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center. The Bobcats lead the league with a 4-0 mark (Montana is 3-0), while the Lumberjacks enter weekend play 2-1.
The Bobcats focus on one key factor in terms of handling the success 2022 has brought to this point, and the expectations moving forward. "Stay in the moment," he says. "I think our guys have done a great job remaining focused on the present. They're not looking behind them, where the program's been, and they're not looking at the future. They show up every day focused on having a great practice that day, on getting better that day. The only time you can get better is in the present."
Were the Bobcats to look backward in time, they'd see a Northern Arizona program that has dominated the league in recent seasons. The Lumberjacks won the Big Sky in both 2021 and 2019, the last two complete conference seasons. Senior Facundo Tumosa returns as NAU's No. 1 player after helping his team by winning both his doubles and singles matches in last season's championship match.
Were the Bobcats to look ahead, they'd see an intense and wide-open chase for the Big Sky regular season title. Montana State and UM remain unbeaten, while three other teams – Idaho State at 3-1, NAU, and Idaho at 1-1 – stand with one league loss. Only 0-6 Eastern Washington is eliminated from Big Sky Tournament play, with features the top six of the league's nine squads.
By focusing on each day as its own opportunity, Morris said, the Bobcats have gained valuable experience while moving to the top of the league's standings with four matches remaining. "Marcos (Zelver) and Nejc (Sitar) and Jay (Joaquin Espinoza) and Daan (Van Dijk), they know what it means to play important Big Sky matches. But now Matej (Panik) and Brad (Buckland) and Jamo (Jamieson Nathan) have been through that this year, too. They have experienced important Big Sky weekends."
Morris knows his team is in for a stern test Friday. "NAU's recent history is that it's a really good program," he said. "Coach (Maciej) Bogusz has done a great job with that team. We saw them a little in the fall, they had a doubles team at Nationals like we did, and we know what they're all about, know what to expect. I know our guys will be excited and ready for an important Big Sky weekend."
After Friday's match, the Cats visit Idaho on April 10 and host Sacramento State on April 14. The regular season concludes with the annual Cat-Griz showdown on April 23 in Bozeman.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
2020 Hype Video
Thursday, February 13
Men's Tennis Preview | Sac St & Idaho St
Wednesday, April 05
AD Peter Fields and Coach Ash's Remarks Logo Press Conference Remarks
Wednesday, April 17
Cat Dancers - Feb. 24, 2013
Monday, March 25
