MATCH NOTES
ABOUT IDAHO STATE
The Idaho State tennis programs play two conference match-ups at home this weekend. The ISU women face North Dakota Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m., in Reed gym. The men follow the women and are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Idaho State returns to conference action on Saturday, April 13 when both squads face Northern Colorado. The women's match begins at 9 a.m. The men are scheduled to follow at 1 p.m.
Idaho State's men face non-conference opponent Seattle University Sunday, April 14 at 9 a.m. in Reed gym. It will be the final home contest for seniors
Nate Gross and
Charles Norman.
QUEST FOR THE BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Idaho State men have clinched a spot in the Big Sky Tournament for the first time since 2006.
The ISU men are still undefeated in league play with a 6-0 record and need to win three of their next four conference matches to clinch a Big Sky regular season championship. The last and only other time the Bengals won a Big Sky regular season title was in 1990.
The last time ISU went to a Big Sky Tournament it was in the six-team format (2006). No. 5 ISU defeated No. 4 Eastern Washingto 4-1 in quarterfinal and lost to No. 1 Montana State 4-0 in the semifinal. ISU has never won a Big Sky Tournament title as a team.
BENGAL LEADERS
Freshman
Jamey Swiggart leads the Bengals with a 11-2 singles record. He is followed by sophomore
Austin Miller with a 9-3 singles record. Miller is 6-2 at the No. 6 position and 3-1 at the No. 5 spot.
In doubles action, sophomores
Andres Coello and
Krzysztof Stempien boast a 10-3 record .They are followed by the senior team of
Charles Norman and
Nate Gross who have achieved a 7-3 record in the No. 1 spot. Coello and Stempien are a perfect 6-0 in conference doubles matches.
On the women's side, freshman
Kasey Bacon leads ISU with a 7-8 singles record. She is followed by sophomore
Marian Tangarife (6-9), freshman Weibke Boeckmann (4-5) and freshman
Laura Theus (4-8).
Bacon and Weltzin lead the Bengals with a 4-5 doubles record. The duo is 4-3 at the No. 3 position.
NORMAN NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
On March 19, the Big Sky Conference announced senior
Charles Norman had been named Big Sky Player of the Week. Norman was the first ISU player since 2009 to be named POTW. Javier Royo had been the previous Bengal to earn the weekly honor. Norman and doubles partner,
Nate Gross, defeated No. 80 ranked Malko and Marksoo of Sacramento State before Norman went on to defeat Malko at the No. 2 singles.
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA AND SERIES HISTORY
North Dakota's men are 3-10 on the season and 1-6 in Big Sky Conference action. Grant Bakke leads in singles with a 7-4, 3-3 record at the No. 4-6 positions. Connor Oberle and Josh Oothoudt are UND's top doubles duo with a 4-5, 1-3 record. This is the first meeting between the two programs.
North Dakota's women are 3-14 overall and 0-8 in Big Sky play. UND is on a six-match losing streak. Stephanie Petsis leads UND at the No. 1 position with a 8-9, 1-7 record. Petsis and doubles partner Callie Ronkowski are 3-5 on the year and 0-4 in Big Sky at the No. 1 position. ISU leads the all-time series 2-1 and won the last contest 5-2 on March 23, 2012 at the Las Vegas Tournament.
ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO AND SERIES HISTORY
Northern Colorado's men are 12-5 overall this season and 4-4 in Big Sky action. The Bears have won three straight with victories over Seattle (6-1), George Fox (6-0) and Portland State (4-3). Brandon Lupo leads NC with a 14-2, 5-2 record at the No. 1 position. Lupo and doubles partner Ben Gendron led the Bears with a 10-5, 4-3 record in the No. 1 spot. ISU leads the all-time series 6-2 and are 4-0 at home against the Bears. ISU has won the last three contests and won the last match 5-2 on March 3, 2012 at home.
NC's women are 10-7 on the year and hold a 5-3 Big Sky record. The Bears have won two straight with wins over Portland State (4-3) and Lewis Clark College (9-0). Claire Uhle leads the Bears with a 12-5, 5-3 singles record at the No. 4-6 positions. Doubles duo Stephanie Catlin and Elizabeth Tapia lead NC with an 11-6, 5-3 record at the No. 1 position. NC leads the all-time series 0-6. The Bears won the last match 5-2 on March 3, 2012 in Pocatello.
ABOUT SEATTLE AND SERIES HISTORY
Seattle is 1-18 on the season and is led by Zach Konsanke who holds a 6-12 record this season in dual matches. Idaho State leads the all-time series against Seattle 3-0. Idaho State won the last meeting 4-3 on March 23, 2012 at the Las Vegas Tournament.
