Preview: @UNCO_MensTennis Travels to Face Air Force, Incarnate Word

THE SCHEDULE
Spring Match 2
Friday, Jan. 26 – 11:00 a.m.
vs. Air Force Academy (0-0, 0-0 Conf.)
Indoor Tennis Courts, Cadet Gymnasium, USAFA, Colo.
WATCH LIVE

Spring Match 3
Saturday, Jan. 27 – 11:00 a.m.
vs. University of Incarnate Word (0-0, 0-0 Conf.)
Indoor Tennis Courts, Cadet Gymnasium, USAFA, Colo.
WATCH LIVE

GREELEY, Colo.-Northern Colorado Men's Tennis (1-0, 0-0 Conf.) is preparing for a pair of road matches this weekend. They will play the Air Force Falcons on Friday followed by the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals on Saturday. Both matches will be held in Colorado Springs. Last weekend, the Bears began their spring season with a narrow victory over in state rival Colorado State Pueblo 4-3.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Bears swept doubles against the Thunderwolves and then received wins from No. 2 Kyle Pease, No. 4 Nick Wade, and No. 6 Alex Exsted. As the match became closer, it became clear the Bears would need either Exsted or Ryan Hardin to win in singles and Exsted was up to the task, winning the deciding team point over Steven Alcala 6-1, 6-4 at Work Out West Fitness Center in Greeley.

Connor Finerty was in good form looking to maintain his No. 1 singles position on the team last weekend. Although Finerty fell in three sets to Thomas Pudney, he won the second set 6-0 in a match that took 1 hr, 52 min.

LAST YEAR AGAINST AIR FORCE:
Northern Colorado fell to the Falcons 6-1 last season in Colorado Springs, but managed to win two of three doubles matches. Kyle Pease is the only current Bear that was part of a winning doubles duo last spring. Pease lost in singles playing No. 1 to Lucas Fumagalli 6-4, 7-5. Connor Finerty fell at No. 3 to Max Olsen 6-4, 6-4, and Cassell King lost at No. 6 to Mack Galvin 6-4, 6-2.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS:
Air Force returns five of the six singles players that defeated UNC last season. No. 1 Lucas Fumagalli was the only graduate. Air Force plays their first matches of spring on Jan. 24, a doubleheader against Colorado State-Pueblo before meeting the Bears on Friday. In 2016-17, the Falcons went 8-17 overall, 6-8 at home, and 1-6 away.

Air Force wrapped up the fall season with some of the best doubles action seen in years, advancing the top-two draws to the round of 16 at the ITA Regionals. Freshman Sean McKendree led the Falcons with seven wins to his credit, while the Tadgh Collins and Mack Galvin duo led doubles with six wins.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS:
The Cardinals have not played a match this spring yet, but in the fall the doubles team of Gabriel Evans and Sevastian Mortier made it to the round of 16 at the ITA Regional Tournament before falling to Baylor 8-5.

Joey Vatanadilok, 5'10 from San Antonio, Texas is the only senior this spring on the roster. He moved up as a sophomore to play No. 1 singles for the team. The remainder of the roster is made up of 5 juniors, 4 sophomores, and 1 freshman. In 2016-17, the Cardinals owned a 6-15 overall record, (1-4 Conf.) They had wins against Nicholls State (4-3) and Navy (4-1).

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Players Mentioned

Alex Exsted

Connor Finerty

Ryan Hardin

Cassell King

Kyle Pease

Nick Wade

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