Sunday, April 6
Bozeman, MT
2:00 pm
Montana State University
vs
Idaho State
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Bobcats, Bengals Battle in Bozeman's Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center on Sunday
4/5/2025 6:09:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU enters sprint to the finish with an opportunity to play itself into the Big Sky Tournament
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State's drive to qualify for the 2025 Big Sky Conference tournament in late April hits high gear on Sunday when the Bobcats host Idaho State in a league match holding post-season implications.
Fresh off the team's initial conference win of the season last Sunday – "Feels great!" head coach Mateus Ceolin said of his team's victory over Portland State – the Cats finish their home schedule with two home matches in the next five days followed by two on the road. This closing stretch begins Sunday against a team it's battling for one of six spots in the league tournament.
Ceolin said that focusing on one match, one opponent, at a time offers the opportunity to work on fundamentals while drilling down to the details of a single foe. In Idaho State, the Cats face the only Big Sky school it meets twice in the regular season. The Bobcats dropped a 4-3 decision to ISU on February 21 in Pocatello.
"You usually don't have one match a week in college tennis so it was very nice to focus all our attention on scouting one opponent and breaking down who each of our guys will play," Ceolin said. "We also worked on fundamentals like the transition to the net, finishing points at the net, being comfortable playing in different (spots on the court)."
The Bobcats raised their record to 3-16 with Sunday's win against Portland State, including a 1-2 record in Big Sky matches. Idaho State is 2-2 in conference play after Friday's important 4-3 win over the Grizzlies in Pocatello. The Bobcats and Bengals enter Sunday's action as two of five Big Sky teams with two or three league losses.
Ceolin likes the bump of energy and positivity Sunday's win over Portland State gave his team. "I saw a positive attitude," he said of his team's work in practice in the last week. "I think there was more confidence. I always tell them, confidence doesn't come from winning, it comes from doing the work, but winning builds trust in the process. So I saw a lot more confidence and more belief this week."
Both teams have undergone lineup shuffles in the intervening weeks. Victor Sklenka played No. 1 singles for the Bengals against Montana on Friday, and did not play earlier vs. MSU. In all, only Luka Vujacic at No. 6 played in the same spot Friday as in the earlier contest against the Bobcats. Against Portland State, the Cats lined up the same as against ISU earlier at two spots – Dmitry Bezborodov at No. 1 and Camille Chantron at no. 4.
"They've been changing their lineup quite a bit," Ceolin said, "but I fee like we know who we're going to play at doubles and at one, two and three in singles. So seeing them before is a positive, but the way they've been mixing things up (at the bottom ladder spots) means we just have to play and do the things we do."
With the season reaching its apex, Ceolin hopes his team leans into the principles he's stressed throughout the season. "I want us to keep getting better, keep showing up with energy, keep competing each and every day in practice, and finish the year in a way that we can build off the foundation into the future. We've put in a lot of work to be able to go out and compete and be successful."
Montana State and Idaho State meet in a women's matchup at 9 am before the men's teams get together at 2 pm in the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.
#GoCatsGo
Fresh off the team's initial conference win of the season last Sunday – "Feels great!" head coach Mateus Ceolin said of his team's victory over Portland State – the Cats finish their home schedule with two home matches in the next five days followed by two on the road. This closing stretch begins Sunday against a team it's battling for one of six spots in the league tournament.
Ceolin said that focusing on one match, one opponent, at a time offers the opportunity to work on fundamentals while drilling down to the details of a single foe. In Idaho State, the Cats face the only Big Sky school it meets twice in the regular season. The Bobcats dropped a 4-3 decision to ISU on February 21 in Pocatello.
"You usually don't have one match a week in college tennis so it was very nice to focus all our attention on scouting one opponent and breaking down who each of our guys will play," Ceolin said. "We also worked on fundamentals like the transition to the net, finishing points at the net, being comfortable playing in different (spots on the court)."
The Bobcats raised their record to 3-16 with Sunday's win against Portland State, including a 1-2 record in Big Sky matches. Idaho State is 2-2 in conference play after Friday's important 4-3 win over the Grizzlies in Pocatello. The Bobcats and Bengals enter Sunday's action as two of five Big Sky teams with two or three league losses.
Ceolin likes the bump of energy and positivity Sunday's win over Portland State gave his team. "I saw a positive attitude," he said of his team's work in practice in the last week. "I think there was more confidence. I always tell them, confidence doesn't come from winning, it comes from doing the work, but winning builds trust in the process. So I saw a lot more confidence and more belief this week."
Both teams have undergone lineup shuffles in the intervening weeks. Victor Sklenka played No. 1 singles for the Bengals against Montana on Friday, and did not play earlier vs. MSU. In all, only Luka Vujacic at No. 6 played in the same spot Friday as in the earlier contest against the Bobcats. Against Portland State, the Cats lined up the same as against ISU earlier at two spots – Dmitry Bezborodov at No. 1 and Camille Chantron at no. 4.
"They've been changing their lineup quite a bit," Ceolin said, "but I fee like we know who we're going to play at doubles and at one, two and three in singles. So seeing them before is a positive, but the way they've been mixing things up (at the bottom ladder spots) means we just have to play and do the things we do."
With the season reaching its apex, Ceolin hopes his team leans into the principles he's stressed throughout the season. "I want us to keep getting better, keep showing up with energy, keep competing each and every day in practice, and finish the year in a way that we can build off the foundation into the future. We've put in a lot of work to be able to go out and compete and be successful."
Montana State and Idaho State meet in a women's matchup at 9 am before the men's teams get together at 2 pm in the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
/ 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
