Thursday, April 25
Phoenix, AZ
9:00 am MT
Montana State University
vs
Weber State
Rayen Hermassi
Photo by: Jack Power
Bobcats Face Weber State in Big Sky Men's Tennis Championships on Thursday at 9 am MDT
4/24/2024 3:55:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU looks to avenge earlier loss to Wildcats...
BOZEMAN, Montana – Riding a wave of momentum after beating Montana 4-3 in the regular season finale, fifth-seeded Montana State plays Weber State, the fourth seed, in the 2023 Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament in Phoenix on Thursday at 9 am MDT. The tourney takes place at the Phoenix Tennis Center.
The Bobcats (9-11, 4-4 Big Sky) dropped a 4-3 decision to Weber State (9-12, 5-3) in Bozeman on April 7, but after his team's comeback win against the Grizzlies MSU coach Rob Bareford likes the direction his squad is headed. "We have some good momentum," Bareford said, "but now we have to capitalize on it."
Montana State dropped the doubles point against Weber State in Bozeman, which proved the pivotal point in the match. The team's split the six singles matches, with Dario Ciobotaru (No. 2 singles), Rayen Hermassi (No. 4) and Andre Stewart (No. 5) each earning wins. Ciobotaru and Hermassi each won in straight sets, and all three players – along with Kanika Jayathilake at No. 6 – are freshmen. Grad student Andras Necz has taken three of his most recent four singles matches, while Hermassi has won three of five.
Sophomore Max Relic landed All-Big Sky singles and doubles honors on Wednesday. The Big Sky Conference named him third team all-league as MSU's No. 1 singles player, and along with Necz he earned honorable mention doubles honors. Weber State's Tristan Sarap, who topped Relic 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 when the teams got together earlier this season, earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors after a 7-12 season in singles play at the top ladder spot. Ken Minh leads the Wildcats with an 11-8 mark on courts five and six.
Bareford is confident in his team's ability to compete in this week's postseason tournament. "I really believe that when we play our best tennis," he said, "we can beat every team in our league."
Live stats for Thursday's match may be found here.
#GoCatsGo
The Bobcats (9-11, 4-4 Big Sky) dropped a 4-3 decision to Weber State (9-12, 5-3) in Bozeman on April 7, but after his team's comeback win against the Grizzlies MSU coach Rob Bareford likes the direction his squad is headed. "We have some good momentum," Bareford said, "but now we have to capitalize on it."
Montana State dropped the doubles point against Weber State in Bozeman, which proved the pivotal point in the match. The team's split the six singles matches, with Dario Ciobotaru (No. 2 singles), Rayen Hermassi (No. 4) and Andre Stewart (No. 5) each earning wins. Ciobotaru and Hermassi each won in straight sets, and all three players – along with Kanika Jayathilake at No. 6 – are freshmen. Grad student Andras Necz has taken three of his most recent four singles matches, while Hermassi has won three of five.
Sophomore Max Relic landed All-Big Sky singles and doubles honors on Wednesday. The Big Sky Conference named him third team all-league as MSU's No. 1 singles player, and along with Necz he earned honorable mention doubles honors. Weber State's Tristan Sarap, who topped Relic 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 when the teams got together earlier this season, earned Second Team All-Big Sky honors after a 7-12 season in singles play at the top ladder spot. Ken Minh leads the Wildcats with an 11-8 mark on courts five and six.
Bareford is confident in his team's ability to compete in this week's postseason tournament. "I really believe that when we play our best tennis," he said, "we can beat every team in our league."
Live stats for Thursday's match may be found here.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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