David Ismanescu celebrates with Yassin Elaroussy
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Bobcats Take Emotional Non-Conference Win Against Idaho State
2/1/2026 6:58:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MSU rides young players at bottom ladder spots to 4-3 victory
BOZEMAN, Mont. (Feb. 1, 2026) – The last shall be first. That maxim has certainly applied to the Montana State men's tennis program in 2026.
Just a few minutes after freshman David Ismanescu finished off a straight-set win at No. 5 singles, classmate Ethan Masselis completed his match-clinching point at the bottom ladder spot to hand Montana State a 4-3 non-conference win against Idaho State in Bozeman on Sunday.
That win triggered a wild celebration, his Bobcat teammates pouring onto court three to mob the freshman Frenchman. "It feels great," said Montana State coach Mateus Ceolin. "It's great to win a match like this and to see the guys celebrate."
The emotion of the moment capped an intense contest. The teams combined for four tie-breakers, three in singles competition. One of them decided the third set of MSU sophomore Camille Chantron's 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5) loss at No. 5 singles, which was wedged after Ismanescu's win and set up Masselis' match as the decider.
Masselis said he felt the significance. "There was a lot of pressure," he said, "but I used the support of my teammates. It helped me a lot."
More than 250 fans crowded into the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center throughout the four hour, 11 minute match which proved to be a nail-biting back-and-forth affair. The Bengals jumped on top by capturing the doubles point. Lewie Bouman and Sep de Visser beat Chantron and Eddie Biss at No. 1, then Tyler Dalos and Quentin Lamothe topped Yassin Elaroussy and Ismanescu 7-6 and 7-3 in the tie-breaker.
"We competed hard in the doubles point," Ceolin said. "The guys fought. We're getting better, but we have to continue working."
The Cats turned the tide in singles competition, with Yassin Elaroussy jumping on Sam Wensley for a quick 6-1, 6-3 victory. "That changed the environment," Ceolin said. "Yassin was like the battery that got us going today."
Elaroussy, in turn, said he received a jolt from the energetic crowd. "I feel I was dialed in because of the crowd," he said. "Without the crowd, I don't thing this would have been possible."
Not long after Elaroussy's win, Diallo pushed the Cats into a 2-1 lead with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win over de Visser. Meanwhile, Andre Stewart was locked into a battle of wills at No. 1 singles with De Pellegrin. The Bengals senior took the first set 7-6 and 6-3 in the tie-breaker, but Stewart answered with a 6-1 evener. De Pellegrin earned set three's only break point in a 6-4 win.
"The difference in that match was just two or three points," Ceolin said. "It was that close. Andre played great, he just needs to focus on a couple of things in the mental game. But he was great today."
That set up the three matches at the bottom of the lineup as the match's deciding nexus. And throughout the season, that has played in Montana State's favor. In the team's six duals in January, MSU held a 4-1 record at both the fifth and sixth ladder spots entering Sunday's contest. Ismanescu and Masselis both stood 4-1 entering Sunday's match.
"David's veins are ice," Ceolin said, "The same is true for Ethan. They just didn't feel anything in that moment."
With the crowd and his teammates clamoring during the late moments of Chantron's match, Ismanescu routinely dispatched Bouman 6-3, 6-3. "David was locked in the whole match," Ceolin said. "He just got to work, got to business."
After ISU took the point at No. 4, Masselis stood on the stage alone, his team's fate on his shoulders. He said a deliberate approach helped him stay calm. "I tried to take as much time as I needed between points, and that works. I was taking the time in needed, talking with my coach, being very focused on myself and my (serve) return."
Masselis said Sunday's match reflected the challenges he's faced and progress he's made since arriving at Montana State in August. "I had some troubles adapting when I first cane, but now I feel really good and I think that Montana State can do big things this season."
Against ISU's Tyler Dalos, a senior who played for three seasons at Eastern Washington, Masselis' deliberate pace prevailed. His 6-2, 6-3 win triggered the Bobcat celebration.
"I'm so happy with the win, and now we just have to keep getting better and keep coming to work every day," Ceolin said. "We just have to keep going."
Montana State returns to action on Thursday at BYU.
SINGLES
1. Valentino De Pellegrin (ISU) def. Andre Stewart (MSU) 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-4
2. Yassin Elaroussy (MSU) def. Sam Wensley (ISU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Oumar Diallo (MSU) def. Sep de Visser (ISU) 7-6 (3), 6-3
4. Hayden Ciguenza (ISU) def. Camille Chantron (MSU) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5)
5. David Ismanescu (MSU) def. Lewie Bouman (ISU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Ethan Masselis (MSU) def. Tyler Dalos (ISU) 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. Bouman/de Visser (ISU) def. Chantron/Eddie Biss (MSU) 6-1
2. Stewart/Diallo (MSU) vs. Ciguenza/De Pellegrin (ISU) 5-4 unfinished
3. Dalos/Quentin Lamothe (ISU) def. Elaroussy/Ismanescu (MSU) 7-6 (3)
Order of Finish: Doubles – 3,1; Singles – 2,3,1,5,4,6
#GoCatsGo
Just a few minutes after freshman David Ismanescu finished off a straight-set win at No. 5 singles, classmate Ethan Masselis completed his match-clinching point at the bottom ladder spot to hand Montana State a 4-3 non-conference win against Idaho State in Bozeman on Sunday.
That win triggered a wild celebration, his Bobcat teammates pouring onto court three to mob the freshman Frenchman. "It feels great," said Montana State coach Mateus Ceolin. "It's great to win a match like this and to see the guys celebrate."
The emotion of the moment capped an intense contest. The teams combined for four tie-breakers, three in singles competition. One of them decided the third set of MSU sophomore Camille Chantron's 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5) loss at No. 5 singles, which was wedged after Ismanescu's win and set up Masselis' match as the decider.
Masselis said he felt the significance. "There was a lot of pressure," he said, "but I used the support of my teammates. It helped me a lot."
More than 250 fans crowded into the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center throughout the four hour, 11 minute match which proved to be a nail-biting back-and-forth affair. The Bengals jumped on top by capturing the doubles point. Lewie Bouman and Sep de Visser beat Chantron and Eddie Biss at No. 1, then Tyler Dalos and Quentin Lamothe topped Yassin Elaroussy and Ismanescu 7-6 and 7-3 in the tie-breaker.
"We competed hard in the doubles point," Ceolin said. "The guys fought. We're getting better, but we have to continue working."
The Cats turned the tide in singles competition, with Yassin Elaroussy jumping on Sam Wensley for a quick 6-1, 6-3 victory. "That changed the environment," Ceolin said. "Yassin was like the battery that got us going today."
Elaroussy, in turn, said he received a jolt from the energetic crowd. "I feel I was dialed in because of the crowd," he said. "Without the crowd, I don't thing this would have been possible."
Not long after Elaroussy's win, Diallo pushed the Cats into a 2-1 lead with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win over de Visser. Meanwhile, Andre Stewart was locked into a battle of wills at No. 1 singles with De Pellegrin. The Bengals senior took the first set 7-6 and 6-3 in the tie-breaker, but Stewart answered with a 6-1 evener. De Pellegrin earned set three's only break point in a 6-4 win.
"The difference in that match was just two or three points," Ceolin said. "It was that close. Andre played great, he just needs to focus on a couple of things in the mental game. But he was great today."
That set up the three matches at the bottom of the lineup as the match's deciding nexus. And throughout the season, that has played in Montana State's favor. In the team's six duals in January, MSU held a 4-1 record at both the fifth and sixth ladder spots entering Sunday's contest. Ismanescu and Masselis both stood 4-1 entering Sunday's match.
"David's veins are ice," Ceolin said, "The same is true for Ethan. They just didn't feel anything in that moment."
With the crowd and his teammates clamoring during the late moments of Chantron's match, Ismanescu routinely dispatched Bouman 6-3, 6-3. "David was locked in the whole match," Ceolin said. "He just got to work, got to business."
After ISU took the point at No. 4, Masselis stood on the stage alone, his team's fate on his shoulders. He said a deliberate approach helped him stay calm. "I tried to take as much time as I needed between points, and that works. I was taking the time in needed, talking with my coach, being very focused on myself and my (serve) return."
Masselis said Sunday's match reflected the challenges he's faced and progress he's made since arriving at Montana State in August. "I had some troubles adapting when I first cane, but now I feel really good and I think that Montana State can do big things this season."
Against ISU's Tyler Dalos, a senior who played for three seasons at Eastern Washington, Masselis' deliberate pace prevailed. His 6-2, 6-3 win triggered the Bobcat celebration.
"I'm so happy with the win, and now we just have to keep getting better and keep coming to work every day," Ceolin said. "We just have to keep going."
Montana State returns to action on Thursday at BYU.
SINGLES
1. Valentino De Pellegrin (ISU) def. Andre Stewart (MSU) 7-6 (3), 1-6, 6-4
2. Yassin Elaroussy (MSU) def. Sam Wensley (ISU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Oumar Diallo (MSU) def. Sep de Visser (ISU) 7-6 (3), 6-3
4. Hayden Ciguenza (ISU) def. Camille Chantron (MSU) 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (5)
5. David Ismanescu (MSU) def. Lewie Bouman (ISU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Ethan Masselis (MSU) def. Tyler Dalos (ISU) 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. Bouman/de Visser (ISU) def. Chantron/Eddie Biss (MSU) 6-1
2. Stewart/Diallo (MSU) vs. Ciguenza/De Pellegrin (ISU) 5-4 unfinished
3. Dalos/Quentin Lamothe (ISU) def. Elaroussy/Ismanescu (MSU) 7-6 (3)
Order of Finish: Doubles – 3,1; Singles – 2,3,1,5,4,6
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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