University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, April 13
Missoula, MT
2:00 pm
University of Northern Colorado
at
University of Montana
Preview: @UNCO_MensTennis Can Play Spoiler Role this Weekend
4/9/2018 12:23:00 PM | Men's Tennis
THE SCHEDULE
Spring Match 21
Friday, April 13 - 2:00 p.m.
vs. Montana
Missoula, Mont.
Spring Match 22
Sunday, April 15 - 2:00 p.m.
vs. Montana State
Bozeman, Mont.
GREELEY, Colo. - After a win at home over Oral Roberts last weekend, the Bears will play their final four regular season matches on the road, beginning with Montana on Friday and Montana State on Sunday. Unfortunately, the Bears can only get to four conference wins with the remainder of the schedule and will miss the Big Sky post-season tournament, but they have already eclipsed last season's overall record of 8-13 and can finish above the .500 mark with three more wins.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears squeaked out a tight 4-3 victory over the Oral Roberts Eagles Thursday afternoon at UNC Campus Tennis Courts on senior day. The Bears won the team doubles point after No. 1 and No. 2 cruised through. The Bears went ahead 2-0 when No. 2 Kyle Pease breezed through his singles match to defeat Jan Pehnec 6-0, 6-3. Then Nick Wade came up a straight set win at No. 4 over Marcello Moreira 6-3, 6-2 to make it 3-0.
After Wade's win, the match proved to be far from over as Oral Roberts began to turn things around. Alvaro Santamaria beat Michael Kritzinger at No. 3 to make it 3-1 and then the three setters commenced. Connor Finerty fell at No. 1 to Kenneth Boykin 6-7, 7-5, 6-3 as No. 6 singles continued. In that spot, Alex Exsted had to battle back after losing a tiebreaker for the second set. In the third, he was the more consistent player and won the set 6-3 to seal the team victory for the Bears.
FOR THE BEARS
Jr. Kyle Pease had a strong showing against the Eagles on Thursday. He was the first off the court with a win at No. 2 singles and also helped secure the team doubles point by winning at No. 2 with Tommy Smalley 6-3. Pease is now 11-7 in singles overall, 2-0 at No. 1. In doubles, Pease has played a majority of matches with Tommy Smalley and the pair have gone 11-5 playing mostly No. 2.
The Bears are 48-63 in singles competition. Alex Exsted holds the best winning percentage on the team and is 12-7 playing a combination of singles positions 4-6. UNC is 27-28 in doubles. Seniors Connor Finerty and Cassell King have an 8-11 record at No. 1. The Bears are 4-6 in their last ten duels. Their longest win streak this spring is three (Incarnate Word, Metro State, Colorado College).
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES (7-5, 4-2 Big Sky)
Montana defeated Southern Utah last weekend to move into good position to make the Big Sky Tournament. Last season, the Bears defeated the Grizzlies for the first time in the Division I era and hope to play spoiler this season.
Fast Facts:
- Montana plays Idaho on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., then the Bears Friday at 2:00 p.m.
-The Griz ended a six-match road trip last weekend that saw them go 3-3 with wins over Sacramento State, Idaho State, and Southern Utah.
- Their veteran roster is made up of four seniors, one junior, and two sophomores.
- Only Sr. Zach Fisher is originally from the United States (Washington). Other countries of origin include Greece, Spain, Sweden, Canada, and Germany.
- Sr. Victor Casadevall is 5-3 at No. 1 singles and 23-8 overall.
- Sr. Yannick Schmidl is 5-1 at No. 2 singles and earned Big Sky player of the week last week.
- Montana is 56-26 overall in singles matches, 29-28 in doubles.
- Interim Head Coach Jason Brown has used 10 different doubles combinations this spring.
- In the Big Sky Preseason poll, the Grizzlies were predicted to finish third.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS (4-10, 3-3 Big Sky)
Montana State is looking to get back into the win column this week after losing their last four. Most recently, the Bobcats fell to Southern Utah 5-2 and Northern Arizona 7-0 on April 7th and 8th. They are currently seventh in the conference standings, one spot outside tournament position.
Fast Facts:
- Last season, the Bobcats finished 7-15, 6-5 in the Big Sky
- Balanced roster is made up of three seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen.
- Montana State has only played two matches at home so far; they are 1-1.
- Jr. Alexander Flink narrowly lost a ten-point tiebreak at No. 1 singles last weekend against Southern Utah. Flink also plays No. 1 doubles with Rok Sitar.
- Head Coach Jared Burnham has led the Cats to the Big Sky Tournament all five seasons he has been in Bozeman. Before MSU, Burnham was the head coach at Weber State from 2004-12.
- In the pre-season coaches poll, Montana State was selected to finish seventh, where they currently stand.
ELSEWHERE IN THE BIG SKY
The best overall record belongs to Southern Utah, but the Thunderbirds are just 3-4 in Big Sky matches. Idaho continues to lead the conference at 6-0. They are also undefeated in all matches at home (3-0). Northern Arizona is second at 7-2 and Weber State has clinched a spot in the tournament with an 8-3 record. The Bears (1-7) sit in eleventh, behind Eastern Washington (2-4) and ahead of North Dakota (1-9).
Victor Casadevall (Montana) is the only No. 1 singles player with less than five losses. He is 5-3. Tim Handel (Northern Arizona) is close behind with a record of 9-6. In doubles, Peter Trhac and David Felix (Idaho St.) continue to lead the way at No. 1 with an 11-3 mark.
Spring Match 21
Friday, April 13 - 2:00 p.m.
vs. Montana
Missoula, Mont.
Spring Match 22
Sunday, April 15 - 2:00 p.m.
vs. Montana State
Bozeman, Mont.
GREELEY, Colo. - After a win at home over Oral Roberts last weekend, the Bears will play their final four regular season matches on the road, beginning with Montana on Friday and Montana State on Sunday. Unfortunately, the Bears can only get to four conference wins with the remainder of the schedule and will miss the Big Sky post-season tournament, but they have already eclipsed last season's overall record of 8-13 and can finish above the .500 mark with three more wins.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bears squeaked out a tight 4-3 victory over the Oral Roberts Eagles Thursday afternoon at UNC Campus Tennis Courts on senior day. The Bears won the team doubles point after No. 1 and No. 2 cruised through. The Bears went ahead 2-0 when No. 2 Kyle Pease breezed through his singles match to defeat Jan Pehnec 6-0, 6-3. Then Nick Wade came up a straight set win at No. 4 over Marcello Moreira 6-3, 6-2 to make it 3-0.
After Wade's win, the match proved to be far from over as Oral Roberts began to turn things around. Alvaro Santamaria beat Michael Kritzinger at No. 3 to make it 3-1 and then the three setters commenced. Connor Finerty fell at No. 1 to Kenneth Boykin 6-7, 7-5, 6-3 as No. 6 singles continued. In that spot, Alex Exsted had to battle back after losing a tiebreaker for the second set. In the third, he was the more consistent player and won the set 6-3 to seal the team victory for the Bears.
FOR THE BEARS
Jr. Kyle Pease had a strong showing against the Eagles on Thursday. He was the first off the court with a win at No. 2 singles and also helped secure the team doubles point by winning at No. 2 with Tommy Smalley 6-3. Pease is now 11-7 in singles overall, 2-0 at No. 1. In doubles, Pease has played a majority of matches with Tommy Smalley and the pair have gone 11-5 playing mostly No. 2.
The Bears are 48-63 in singles competition. Alex Exsted holds the best winning percentage on the team and is 12-7 playing a combination of singles positions 4-6. UNC is 27-28 in doubles. Seniors Connor Finerty and Cassell King have an 8-11 record at No. 1. The Bears are 4-6 in their last ten duels. Their longest win streak this spring is three (Incarnate Word, Metro State, Colorado College).
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES (7-5, 4-2 Big Sky)
Montana defeated Southern Utah last weekend to move into good position to make the Big Sky Tournament. Last season, the Bears defeated the Grizzlies for the first time in the Division I era and hope to play spoiler this season.
Fast Facts:
- Montana plays Idaho on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., then the Bears Friday at 2:00 p.m.
-The Griz ended a six-match road trip last weekend that saw them go 3-3 with wins over Sacramento State, Idaho State, and Southern Utah.
- Their veteran roster is made up of four seniors, one junior, and two sophomores.
- Only Sr. Zach Fisher is originally from the United States (Washington). Other countries of origin include Greece, Spain, Sweden, Canada, and Germany.
- Sr. Victor Casadevall is 5-3 at No. 1 singles and 23-8 overall.
- Sr. Yannick Schmidl is 5-1 at No. 2 singles and earned Big Sky player of the week last week.
- Montana is 56-26 overall in singles matches, 29-28 in doubles.
- Interim Head Coach Jason Brown has used 10 different doubles combinations this spring.
- In the Big Sky Preseason poll, the Grizzlies were predicted to finish third.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS (4-10, 3-3 Big Sky)
Montana State is looking to get back into the win column this week after losing their last four. Most recently, the Bobcats fell to Southern Utah 5-2 and Northern Arizona 7-0 on April 7th and 8th. They are currently seventh in the conference standings, one spot outside tournament position.
Fast Facts:
- Last season, the Bobcats finished 7-15, 6-5 in the Big Sky
- Balanced roster is made up of three seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen.
- Montana State has only played two matches at home so far; they are 1-1.
- Jr. Alexander Flink narrowly lost a ten-point tiebreak at No. 1 singles last weekend against Southern Utah. Flink also plays No. 1 doubles with Rok Sitar.
- Head Coach Jared Burnham has led the Cats to the Big Sky Tournament all five seasons he has been in Bozeman. Before MSU, Burnham was the head coach at Weber State from 2004-12.
- In the pre-season coaches poll, Montana State was selected to finish seventh, where they currently stand.
ELSEWHERE IN THE BIG SKY
The best overall record belongs to Southern Utah, but the Thunderbirds are just 3-4 in Big Sky matches. Idaho continues to lead the conference at 6-0. They are also undefeated in all matches at home (3-0). Northern Arizona is second at 7-2 and Weber State has clinched a spot in the tournament with an 8-3 record. The Bears (1-7) sit in eleventh, behind Eastern Washington (2-4) and ahead of North Dakota (1-9).
Victor Casadevall (Montana) is the only No. 1 singles player with less than five losses. He is 5-3. Tim Handel (Northern Arizona) is close behind with a record of 9-6. In doubles, Peter Trhac and David Felix (Idaho St.) continue to lead the way at No. 1 with an 11-3 mark.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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