University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Sunday, March 26
Greeley, Colo.
10:00 am
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Portland State
UNC Men's Tennis Ready to take on Portland State Sunday
3/22/2017 10:48:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Bears have 6-2 Record at Home this Spring
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado men's tennis returns home this weekend for a single match against Portland State at 10:00am at Butler Hancock Tennis Courts, weather contingent. Although they lost to the Vikings last season, both team's lineups have changed significantly since then and the Bears have a 6-2 home record this spring.
Men's Tennis (6-9, 3-4 Big Sky)
Last Time Out: Northern Colorado's men's tennis team took on some quality competition two weeks ago at the Golden State Invitational in Sacramento. The Bears fell in its three matches to Sacramento State, Saint Mary's and Nevada. UNC's closest match came against Nevada in a 5-2 decision.
The tournament began Friday against co-host Sacramento State in what also counted as a Big Sky Conference match. The Hornets defeated UNC 7-0, with only one UNC doubles pair coming up with a win for the team. That pair was the No. 2 duo of Kyle Pease and Connor Finerty in a 6-3 decision.
Against Nevada, the Bears were swept in doubles play, but picked up a pair of wins in singles play. Both Finerty and Alex Vakouftsis won in three-set battles against the Wolf Pack. Finerty won his No. 1 slot in 6-3, 6-7, 10-2 fashion over Julien Evrard. Meanwhile, Vakouftsis played in the No. 3 spot winning 6-4, 3-6, 10-5.
In the final day of the tournament Northern Colorado took on Saint Mary's. The Gales came out the victors 6-1. UNC's lone point came from the No. 3 singles position again from Vakouftsis. He once again won in a three set battle, coming back from dropping the first set 3-6, he won the next two 6-2 and 10-2. Vakouftsis and his doubles partner Hayden Cramer also won their No.1 doubles match 6-2.
Need to Know: As a team, the Bears have had a slightly better winning percentage in doubles, .419 versus .371 in singles competition. Kyle Pease and Cassell King have a 7-5 record as a doubles duo, 5-4 at the No. 2 position in Ben Gendron's lineup, and 2-1 at the No. 1 spot. Alex Vakouftsis has been a reliable player at the No. 3 singles spot for the Bears and has an 8-4 record at that position.
Scouting Portland State (2-10, 0-5 Big Sky): The Vikings are coming off a pair of matches last weekend, where they lost to Montana State 4-3 and Montana 6-1. Portland State is led by its No. 1 singles player in junior Nathan Boniel who has a 9-3 record despite the team's struggles. Last season, Boniel was named the Big Sky MVP. He is also the Vikings' all-time career wins leader. PSU is a young team, consisting of two seniors, one junior, one sophomore, and four freshmen. They are coached by Toby Krauel, who is in his fourth year as head of the men's program.
Worthless Stat: Last year, the Bears lost to Portland State 7-0, but this weekend will be a legitimate chance for UNC to reverse their fortunes against the Vikings. The Bears were close to winning at three singles positions in the 2016 match. No. 1, No. 4, and No. 6 all went to three sets.
Men's Tennis (6-9, 3-4 Big Sky)
Last Time Out: Northern Colorado's men's tennis team took on some quality competition two weeks ago at the Golden State Invitational in Sacramento. The Bears fell in its three matches to Sacramento State, Saint Mary's and Nevada. UNC's closest match came against Nevada in a 5-2 decision.
The tournament began Friday against co-host Sacramento State in what also counted as a Big Sky Conference match. The Hornets defeated UNC 7-0, with only one UNC doubles pair coming up with a win for the team. That pair was the No. 2 duo of Kyle Pease and Connor Finerty in a 6-3 decision.
Against Nevada, the Bears were swept in doubles play, but picked up a pair of wins in singles play. Both Finerty and Alex Vakouftsis won in three-set battles against the Wolf Pack. Finerty won his No. 1 slot in 6-3, 6-7, 10-2 fashion over Julien Evrard. Meanwhile, Vakouftsis played in the No. 3 spot winning 6-4, 3-6, 10-5.
In the final day of the tournament Northern Colorado took on Saint Mary's. The Gales came out the victors 6-1. UNC's lone point came from the No. 3 singles position again from Vakouftsis. He once again won in a three set battle, coming back from dropping the first set 3-6, he won the next two 6-2 and 10-2. Vakouftsis and his doubles partner Hayden Cramer also won their No.1 doubles match 6-2.
Need to Know: As a team, the Bears have had a slightly better winning percentage in doubles, .419 versus .371 in singles competition. Kyle Pease and Cassell King have a 7-5 record as a doubles duo, 5-4 at the No. 2 position in Ben Gendron's lineup, and 2-1 at the No. 1 spot. Alex Vakouftsis has been a reliable player at the No. 3 singles spot for the Bears and has an 8-4 record at that position.
Scouting Portland State (2-10, 0-5 Big Sky): The Vikings are coming off a pair of matches last weekend, where they lost to Montana State 4-3 and Montana 6-1. Portland State is led by its No. 1 singles player in junior Nathan Boniel who has a 9-3 record despite the team's struggles. Last season, Boniel was named the Big Sky MVP. He is also the Vikings' all-time career wins leader. PSU is a young team, consisting of two seniors, one junior, one sophomore, and four freshmen. They are coached by Toby Krauel, who is in his fourth year as head of the men's program.
Worthless Stat: Last year, the Bears lost to Portland State 7-0, but this weekend will be a legitimate chance for UNC to reverse their fortunes against the Vikings. The Bears were close to winning at three singles positions in the 2016 match. No. 1, No. 4, and No. 6 all went to three sets.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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