New-look Griz picked fourth in Big Sky preseason poll

The Montana men's tennis team will start its rebuilding season once again picked to advance to the conference championship, coming in fourth in this year's preseason coaches' poll, the Big Sky announced Tuesday.

After losing four all-conference performers from last year's regionally ranked squad that included Big Sky MVP Ed Pudney, this year's Grizzlies have big shoes to fill.

Without a senior in the regular six-man lineup, Montana will be led by juniors Moritz Stoeger and Guillermo Martin, sophomore Gustav Theilgaard, and a host of talented newcomers that made impressive strides during the fall tournament season.

"As much as I appreciate the vote of confidence in the coaches picking us fourth, I think we have a lot to prove with this incredibly young and untested team," said sixth-year head coach Jason Brown.

"I think the top three teams are very good, and I hope by April we will be in a position to challenge them. It most definitely won't be for lack of work ethic because these guys were extraordinary in that department in the fall."

Last year's Grizzlies advanced to the semifinal of the 2022 conference championship before falling to the eventual champion Idaho Vandals.

Montana returns two All-Big Sky performers from that squad in 2023, with the newcomers showing promise during the fall tourney season.

Stoeger went undefeated in league play as a sophomore to earn a second-team all-conference selection in singles. He won his last eight matches to remain undefeated at 7-0 in conference play and 11-3 in the spring duals season.

Martin played his first competitive tennis in over a year since recovering from injury in the fall and didn't skip a beat. The Spaniard paced the Griz with a team-high 3-1 singles record to finish second in his group at the Utah Invitational, taking wins over opponents from Utah, Utah State, and Weber State.

Theilgaard and his partner Milo Benn earned second-team all-conference doubles honors after going 12-3 as a pair last season. They posted the best record in the league on court three doubles at 5-2 while impressing at 12-3 overall in the spring.

The Dane was a breakout star for UM as a freshman, earning Big Sky Player of the Week honors after starting the year with 10-straight wins. He continued that form in the fall, capturing his first collegiate title at the Idaho State Invitational by defeating teammate and UM newcomer Fernando Perez in the championship match.

Two Grizzly freshmen, Tom Bittner and George Russell, each had standout performances in the fall as well, advancing to the championship match of their respective singles brackets at the Gonzaga tourney, competing for their first collegiate title in their first season of college tennis.

The defending league champion Vandals were selected by the coaches to repeat this season with eight first-place votes, while traditional powerhouses Northern Arizona and Sacramento State tied for second with 53 points each in the voting.

The Griz will get the home-court advantage against the Vandals on April 7, but will have to face both NAU and Sac State on the road this season.

Idaho State and Weber State slotted in at fifth and sixth, respectively, by a narrow margin in the voting with just three points separating the two. Montana will also face the Wildcats and Bengals on the road, setting up must-win scenarios at home.

With a new head coach this season, Montana State finished seventh in the poll with 28 points in the voting. The Griz will have the home-court advantage in this year's Brawl of the Wild, with UM hosting the Bobcats on April 22. Luckily for the Griz, UM a 28-3 record in home matches under Brown.

Montana opens the spring duals season in Missoula on Saturday, hosting former Big Sky foe North Dakota on Jan. 14, with opening serves going up at 10:30 a.m.

2022 Big Sky Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll
1: Idaho (8) – 64
T2: Northern Arizona (1) – 53
T2: Sacramento State – 53
4: Montana – 40
5: Idaho State – 33
6: Weber State – 30
7: Montana State – 28
8: Portland State – 14
9: Eastern Washington – 9

University of Montana Athletics

New-look Griz picked fourth in Big Sky preseason poll

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Players Mentioned

Milo Benn

Tom Bittner

Guillermo Martin

Fernando Perez

Ed Pudney

George Russell

Moritz Stoeger

Gustav Theilgaard

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