Bobcat Men's Tennis Team Bounces Eagles

Friday, March 13

Spokane, WA

3 pm

Montana State University

Eastern Washington

Javier Martin-Morillas and the Bobcats beat Eastern on Friday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

3/13/2015 10:23:00 PM | Men's Tennis

MSU wins 'wild one' against Eastern Washington

By: MSU Sports Information

Bobcat sophomore Andre Napoliatano capped a wild comeback by winning a third-set tie-breaker to boost Montana State to a 4-3 men's tennis win over Eastern Washington in Cheney on Friday.

"It was crazy," said Montana State head coach Jared Burnham of his No. 1 singles player's two-and-a-half hour match. Napoliatano defeated Robert Dula 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 in a two-and-a-half hour match that capped the win for MSU. "Andre played great. Both guys were cramping. It was intense."

While Napoliatano's emotional win sealed the Bobcats' crucial team victory, the match turned when freshman Dylan Harvala posted another come-from-behind win at the opposite end of the ladder. With the team trailing 3-1, Harvala lost the first set 0-6. But the Missoula product rallied for a 7-5 win in the second set, and kept the Bobcats alive with a 6-4 third set victory.

"Dylan's comeback was huge," Burnham said. "Then Nik (Brandeswon his third set easily (at No. 2), and Andre finished it off."

Brandes won his third straight singles match after opening the year 3-6 to square his season mark at 6-6. Napoliatano's win was his eighth straight, raising his mark to 8-4, while Javier Martin-Morillas, who provided the Cats their only straight-set win, a 6-3, 6-2 win over Luke Thompson, is now a team-best 9-3.

The Bobcats were in position to need four singles wins by dropping the doubles point. It snapped a string of five straight doubles point wins for the Bobcats.

MSU faces its sternest test of the season to date on Saturday, battling Idaho at Gonzaga at 9 am. The Big Sky preseason favorites stand 3-0 in Big Sky play after topping Sacramento State 4-3 in Spokane on Friday.

SINGLES COMPETITION
1. Andre Napoliatano (MSU) def. Robert Dula (EWU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6)
2. Niklas Brandes (MSU) def. Vuk Vuckovic (EWU) 7-6, 2-6, 6-3
3. Javier Martin-Morillas (MSU) def. E. Martinez (EWU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Luke Thompson (EWU) def. Harry James (MSU) 6-4, 7-6
5. E. Bringold (EWU) def. Kellen Bates (MSU) 6-4, 7-5
6. Dylan Harvala (MSU) def. N. Bendjelti (EWU) 0-6, 7-5, 6-4

DOUBLES COMPETITION
1. Dula/Martinez (EWU) def. Brandes/Martin-Morillas (MSU) 7-6
2. James/Bates (MSU) def. Vuckovic/Thompson (EWU) 6-4
3. Bringold/Rendjetti (EWU) def. Napoliatano/Harvala (MSU) 7-6