BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State returns to the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center Saturday, hosting Whitworth in a men’s tennis doubleheader at 10 am and 2 pm.
 
After 13 days away from action, Bobcat head coach Rob Bareford is looking forward to seeing his squad in action. “This is the first time we’ve had our full team together this season,” Bareford said. “We’ve dealt with some injuries but I’m excited to see how we look.”
 
The Bobcats looked terrific in a season-opening weekend sweep two weeks ago, topping UC Riverside and Seattle. Andras Necz played only one doubles match that weekend, but he’s expected to see some action on Saturday. The Bobcats won 11 of the weekend’s 12 singles matches, and five of the six doubles contests.
 
“It was a good weekend,” Bareford said. “We’ve worked in the time since and I look forward to seeing improvement this weekend. It’s also our last opportunity to play at home for several weeks so we look forward to that, as well.”
 
Whitworth enters weekend play 0-2 after a pair of 7-0 losses at Montana last weekend. First-year coach Daniel Redfern leads the Pirates.
 
Montana State stands 2-0 entering Saturday’s doubleheader, with the chance to make a little history. The Bobcats haven’t started a season with at least four straight dual wins since 1993, when the team opened up 5-0. Max Relic (2-0 at No. 1 singles), Dario Ciobotaru (2-0 at No. 2) and Andre Stewart (2-0 at No. 3) have held strong at the top of the ladder for Montana State. Relic is a sophomore and the others are freshmen.
 
There is some hometown intrigue going both directions this weekend. Bobcat senior Jacob Huppin, a Spokane product, faces one of his hometown teams. The same can be said for Whitworth’s Braeden Butler, who played for Gallatin High last year.
 
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