Bobcat Men's Tennis Team Opens 2026 Season in North Dakota

Saturday, January 17

Grand Forks, ND

TBA

Montana State University

Marquette

Andre Stewart

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

Bobcat Men's Tennis Team Opens 2026 Season in North Dakota

1/16/2026 4:02:00 PM | Men's Tennis

MSU faces Marquette, UND in Grand Forks

By: Bill Lamberty

BOZEMAN, Mont. (Jan. 15) – The first steps in the journey of Montana State's 2026 men's tennis season may come many miles from the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center, but they provide an interesting test for Mateus Ceolin's second Bobcat team.

"North Dakota is a team we played last year, at almost this time, at home," Ceolin said. "They beat us 4-3 in a very close match, so it will be interesting to see where we're at. Have we gotten better? Have we stayed the same?"

The Bobcats face their litmus test against UND on Sunday in Grand Forks, but the day before MSU opens the season against Marquette. That match is also at the University of North Dakota's courts. Both matches begin at 2:30 pm MT.

Ceolin said his team has had a couple spirited weeks of practice leading to the season opener. "Most practices have been pretty intense, the guys have a good mindset," Ceolin said. "I feel like it's a little bit different from last year, even thought we're still a very young team. I see a little more maturity. I see guys that come to work with a purpose."

The difference, Ceolin said, is between the players doing as the coaches instruct them and working hard in a self-directed manner. The high fitness level the players returned from Christmas with stands as an example.

"They did a good job over Christmas," he said. "They came back fit. (MSU Strength) Coach (John) Sauer gave them a workout and they did a great job."

Ceolin takes a young team to the upper Midwest for the 2026 season openers. This year's Bobcat roster doesn't include a senior, but features plenty of talent. Junior Andre Stewart, MSU's team captain, is likely to play at the top ladder spot. Sophomores Camille Chantron and Yassin Elaroussy are also likely to play in the lineup's upper reaches, and classmate Eddie Biss will challenge somewhere in the singles lineup while anchoring the team in doubles play.

Sophomore Oumar Diallo, who redshirted after transferring to MSU last season, hasn't played a spring season since high school. His ability to transition to the college game could provide the Bobcat lineup a boost.

Three freshmen also compete for spots in the Bobcat lineup. Max Calaquian, David Ismanescu and Ethan Masselis each showed positive signs during the fall.

Improved doubles play emerged as an emphasis during the fall season, and Ceolin is pleased with what he saw. "Our doubles pairings played together most of the fall," he said, "and I think they've been able to understand how each other likes to play. They've been able to develop their own specific style. They're playing with a lot of energy."

MSU's singles lineup may be more fluid early in the season. Stewart is the most likely candidate to play No. 1 singles, as the team's veteran and captain, but after that competition exists for most spots. "I feel like every single guy can play pretty much any spot. I think we have a very good, very deep team this year. We have a lot of depth. So I'm excited for that too."

Video of Sunday's match against North Dakota is available here.

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