Grizzlies look to make impact at ITA Regional
10/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 18, 2011
The University of Montana men's tennis team will compete in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Intermountain Regional starting Wednesday in Las Vegas.
The tournament is the culmination of the fall tennis season for a Grizzly team that has shown gradual improvement over the season but looks to make a big jump this weekend.
Senior Carl Kuschkeleads the Grizzlies into the toughest competition they will face all year.
"There is not an easy match out there," Kuschke said. "Everyone here deserves to be here. There are a lot of really good teams and some excellent players."
Coach Kris Nordconcurs with Kuschke on the talent at the regional.
"This is the premier tournament of the year," he said. "There will be some tough competition here. The only thing more important is the Big Sky Conference tournament with the chance to compete in the NCAA tournament."
Kuschke is one of six players Nord brought to Vegas. Senior Ben DeMarois, juniors Michael Facey and Andrew Warren and sophomores Mikolaj Caruk and Ethan Vaughnall made the trek to Sin City.
Nord is confident that any of the players that made the trip can make an impact during the tournament.
"I think any of these guys could surprise some people here," Nord said. "I wouldn't have brought them if I didn't think they had the potential to do something."
Kuschke is one player who has struggled this fall. The senior has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play but he feels that he will play well this week.
"I am looking for some good results," Kuschke said. "I haven't played well so far in the fall, but I am feeling good, and I have had some good practices this week."
Nord is confident that Kuschke can get on a roll.
"If he can get some early wins under his belt I think he will make an impact on the tournament," Nord said.
The Grizzlies are going to have to work hard to advance after receiving a tough first-round draw.
Facey will meet 13th seeded Tamas Batyi from UNLV, Ben DeMaroiswill face 16th seeded Carl Ho from New Mexico and Vaughn will face Rene Ruegamer from UNLV who received the 25th seed.
Warren will face fellow Big Sky Conference player unseeded Ben Gendron from Northern Colorado, Kuschke faces an unseeded player in New Mexico State's Germain Degardin and Caruk will face unseeded Jordan Barlow from Utah State.
The six Grizzlies are also teaming for doubles action.
Kuschke will team up with Caruk, Warren with DeMarois. The third team will be made up of Facey and Vaughn, the combination that won the Montana State Open.
The Grizzlies also received tough draws in the doubles bracket. Kuschke and Caruk will face BYU's Francis Sargent and Spencer Smith, the No. 10 seed, and Facey and Vaughn meet sixth-seeded Ben Dunbar and James Hignett from New Mexico. DeMarois and Warren will meet unseeded Justin Archer and Ben Tasevac from Utah.
The Montana women had a strong showing at the regional last week, a fact not lost on Nord, who wants to match their feat.
"This is really a chance for our guys to knock off some tough competition and get some regional and national recognition," Nord said. "It's time for us to follow up on what the women just did and turn some heads."
The tournament starts Wednesday and will continue through Saturday. The full draw and live results will be available from USTA by clicking here.
