University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, March 3
Greeley, CO
2:00pm
University of Northern Colorado
vs
Weber State University
Preview: @UNCO_MensTennis Will Play Weber State
2/28/2018 1:30:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Bears Looking for First Win Against the Wildcats in Division I Era
THE SCHEDULE
Spring Match 14
Saturday, March 3 - 2:00 p.m.
vs. Weber State
Work Out West Fitness Center, Greeley, Colo.
GREELEY, Colo. - After a four-match road trip last weekend, the Bears (7-6, 1-3 Big Sky) return home for a single match on Saturday against Big Sky foe Weber State University. The team went 5-5 in the month of February and the match against Weber State will be a chance to improve their conference record before heading back on the road.
Leading the way for the Bears has been Soph. Kyle Pease. In singles, Pease has played well at No. 2, posting a 6-5 record so far. Pease has also been a reliable force in the doubles lineup. He and Tommy Smalley have an 8-2 record playing a combination of No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
Connor Finerty is steadily holding down the No. 1 singles spot for the Bears and will be up against Stefan Cooper of the Wildcats on Saturday. The two have never met.
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, the Bears made a trip to the Pacific Northwest and played four matches in three days. They ended the trip 2-2 with wins over Pacific and Linfield and losses against Seattle and Portland State. Against Big Sky opponent Portland State, the Bears could not string together enough wins, despite playing in a lot of close matches. The Vikings won at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, then took No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 singles to take the match 5-2. Kyle Pease won at No. 2 in a tiebreaker for the third set and Alex Exsted was a straight set winner at No. 6 for the Bears.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS (2-7, 1-3 Big Sky)
Weber State is currently on a four-match losing streak. Last weekend, they suffered a pair of Big Sky losses against Idaho (6-1) and Eastern Washington (4-3). The Wildcats roster is made up of two seniors, four sophomores, and one freshman. Stefan Cooper is 4-4 at No. 1 singles. Last year, he defeated Kyle Pease at No. 2 singles 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Chris Van Wyk is 3-5 at No. 2 and Nick Werner is 2-4 at No. 3.
Van Wyk and Cooper have been successful at No. 1 doubles and are 4-2. As a team, the Wildcats have a slightly better doubles record (11-15) than singles (16-32). Stefan Cooper and Kris Van Wyk have both won Big Sky Player of the week honors this season. Brad Ferreira is in his sixth season with Weber State, third as director of tennis.
Last year, Weber State defeated Northern Colorado 6-1. Bears graduate Alex Vakouftsis was the only player to win at his position in that contest. The Bears have not defeated the Wildcats in the Division I era.
BIG PICTURE
After Weber State, the Bears will play seven of their final ten matches away from home. They begin with a three match road trip where they will see Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, and Ottawa University (Ariz.). Their next home match is scheduled for March 22 against Colorado Mesa University. Last season, the Bears posted an 8-13 overall record, 3-8 in the Big Sky. At home, they went 8-4, a trend they hope to repeat this season. Currently, UNC is 4-3 in Greeley.
ELSEWHERE IN THE BIG SKY
Northern Arizona's Tim Handel picked up last week's Big Sky player of the week award. He went 2-1 against tough opponents including Portland State and PAC-12 foe Oregon. Idaho leads the Big Sky Conference Standings with a 3-0 record, but Montana State and Northern Arizona are also undefeated at 2-0 and 1-0 respectively. Northern Colorado is currently tied with Weber State for ninth. Eastern Washington holds the best overall record and is 6-3.
Spring Match 14
Saturday, March 3 - 2:00 p.m.
vs. Weber State
Work Out West Fitness Center, Greeley, Colo.
GREELEY, Colo. - After a four-match road trip last weekend, the Bears (7-6, 1-3 Big Sky) return home for a single match on Saturday against Big Sky foe Weber State University. The team went 5-5 in the month of February and the match against Weber State will be a chance to improve their conference record before heading back on the road.
Leading the way for the Bears has been Soph. Kyle Pease. In singles, Pease has played well at No. 2, posting a 6-5 record so far. Pease has also been a reliable force in the doubles lineup. He and Tommy Smalley have an 8-2 record playing a combination of No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
Connor Finerty is steadily holding down the No. 1 singles spot for the Bears and will be up against Stefan Cooper of the Wildcats on Saturday. The two have never met.
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, the Bears made a trip to the Pacific Northwest and played four matches in three days. They ended the trip 2-2 with wins over Pacific and Linfield and losses against Seattle and Portland State. Against Big Sky opponent Portland State, the Bears could not string together enough wins, despite playing in a lot of close matches. The Vikings won at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, then took No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 singles to take the match 5-2. Kyle Pease won at No. 2 in a tiebreaker for the third set and Alex Exsted was a straight set winner at No. 6 for the Bears.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS (2-7, 1-3 Big Sky)
Weber State is currently on a four-match losing streak. Last weekend, they suffered a pair of Big Sky losses against Idaho (6-1) and Eastern Washington (4-3). The Wildcats roster is made up of two seniors, four sophomores, and one freshman. Stefan Cooper is 4-4 at No. 1 singles. Last year, he defeated Kyle Pease at No. 2 singles 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Chris Van Wyk is 3-5 at No. 2 and Nick Werner is 2-4 at No. 3.
Van Wyk and Cooper have been successful at No. 1 doubles and are 4-2. As a team, the Wildcats have a slightly better doubles record (11-15) than singles (16-32). Stefan Cooper and Kris Van Wyk have both won Big Sky Player of the week honors this season. Brad Ferreira is in his sixth season with Weber State, third as director of tennis.
Last year, Weber State defeated Northern Colorado 6-1. Bears graduate Alex Vakouftsis was the only player to win at his position in that contest. The Bears have not defeated the Wildcats in the Division I era.
BIG PICTURE
After Weber State, the Bears will play seven of their final ten matches away from home. They begin with a three match road trip where they will see Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, and Ottawa University (Ariz.). Their next home match is scheduled for March 22 against Colorado Mesa University. Last season, the Bears posted an 8-13 overall record, 3-8 in the Big Sky. At home, they went 8-4, a trend they hope to repeat this season. Currently, UNC is 4-3 in Greeley.
ELSEWHERE IN THE BIG SKY
Northern Arizona's Tim Handel picked up last week's Big Sky player of the week award. He went 2-1 against tough opponents including Portland State and PAC-12 foe Oregon. Idaho leads the Big Sky Conference Standings with a 3-0 record, but Montana State and Northern Arizona are also undefeated at 2-0 and 1-0 respectively. Northern Colorado is currently tied with Weber State for ninth. Eastern Washington holds the best overall record and is 6-3.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Wednesday, May 13
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