Idaho wins another conference title, this time in Big Sky
As it was on its way out the exit door from the WAC, the Idaho men’s tennis team picked up the 2013-2014 WAC Championship and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Enter 2014-2015, and the Vandals found themselves in the Big Sky Conference with new teams and new opponents every match.
The change of scenery didn’t affect Idaho too much as the Vandals cruised through conference play and the Big Sky Tournament to win another conference championship and a second-straight berth in the NCAA Tournament, where Idaho and No. 8 USC start their match at 1 p.m. Friday.
“I felt we had an excellent chance to win the (Big Sky) conference,” Idaho coach Jeff Beaman said. “But we really had to play as well as any team in the tournament to win it. I feel the Big Sky was a little deeper this year, but WAC was really strong at the top.”
While nonconference play came with its highs and lows, Idaho finished with a 16-11 record and an 8-3 record in Big Sky play. After a season-opening loss to Gonzaga on the road, the Vandals ripped off wins in 10 of their next 13 matches.
Then, the inconsistent play began.
Starting with a loss March 20 to UNLV, Idaho lost five of its next eight matches. The silver lining was the Vandals still managed to go 3-2 in conference play during the stretch. The season ended with Idaho sitting in second place in the Big Sky.
This earned Idaho a bye in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament, where it beat Montana State in the second round. Northern Arizona came into the tournament as the No. 6 and lowest seed, but upset No. 3 seed Montana and No. 1 seed Weber State en route to the championship match against Idaho. The Vandals crushed the Lumberjacks’ Cinderella story in the championship match, earning a Big Sky Championship in their first year in the conference since leaving 18 years ago.
There is one more aspect of the season that mirrors last year for Idaho, as they will once again face off with USC in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. After losing to the Trojans last year, who went on to win the National Championship, the Vandals will face them again Friday in Los Angeles.
“It is great to get to play the defending national champions,” Beaman said. “And after having some good matches with them at some positions last spring, the guys are fired up to see what they can do this year.”
As if the season wasn’t special enough, junior Odon Barta also won the Big Sky Player of the Year award.
“Odon really stepped up his game, and especially his mental approach from last season and I am very proud of him,” Beaman said.
Beaman also added an award of his own as he won Big Sky Coach of the Year.
“It is a great honor and the players should feel the same pride in me receiving it as I do, because it was due to them and our partnership this spring,” Beaman said about the honor.
Ben Evensen can be reached at [email protected]