Men’s tennis adds to MSU’s success by winning conference championship

In front of the largest crowd in Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center history, the men’s tennis team celebrated two crowning achievements on Saturday, April 23. Not only did the team beat in-state rivals, the Montana Grizzlies, they clinched a share of the Big Sky Conference regular championship for the first time since 2013.

It was Jamieson Nathan, the Cats’ number three singles, who clinched MSU’s 5-2 victory, defeating UM’s Oisin Shaffrey 4-7, 7-5, 7-5. Soon after scoring the final point in the second and final set, Nathan was mobbed by his celebrating teammates.

"This is the truth," Panik told MSU Athletics. "When I got here in August I pointed at (the banner inside the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center denoting MSU's championship seasons) and told my teammates, 'Just look at that. And picture 2022 on there. Because it's going to happen.'"

Marcos Zelver, a Bozeman High School graduate and state tennis champion, was clutch in his doubles match, securing the first point of the match with two unreturnable serves, giving the Bobcats the first point of the match and a 1-0 lead, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

"To win like that at home in front of this crowd, it's pretty special," Zelver told MSU Athletics. "I'll be back here playing tennis in this building for a long time, so be able to see that up there will be awesome."

Even after the match win was secured and the Big Sky Conference regular season championship was wrapped up, Joaquin Espinoza still had something to prove in his match against UM’s Pontus Hallgren. In the end, MSU’s number six singles notched a 6-4, 6-3 win, earning a perfect 8-0 record in Big Sky play.

"It's a testament to his daily work ethic and the quality he puts into it," Bobcat Tennis Head Coach Trey Morris told MSU athletics. "I've said this all year. We have six guys playing in any spot in the lineup. We have winning records at every spot, and it just so happens that we're deeper than most teams in this conference.

The tennis team’s success in the 2022 season has been a culmination of work and effort that every member of the team has bought into.

“We hold each other accountable, and most of us live together,” Panik said. “It helps a lot on the court to have your friends, or brothers, have your back no matter what. It’s the reason we do it … everyday we step on the court we strive to get better and to be the best version we can be. We strive to be the best in the conference.”

The Cats will travel to Phoenix, Arizona to compete in the Big Sky Conference Tennis Tournament. MSU is slated to face Northern Arizona, Idaho State or Montana in the second round of the Big Sky Championships on Friday, April 29. MSU will enter the tournament as the second seed.

“We’ve been working for this and practicing for this. It means a lot and we have a (top) seed in the tournament.” Daan Van Dijk said.