The University of Idaho men’s tennis team put together a productive weekend at the Bobcat Invitational, held at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center in Bozeman, Montana, from Friday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 25. The Vandals competed against players from Montana State University, Weber State University and Idaho State University in singles and doubles matches.
The tournament gave Idaho an opportunity to compete against familiar Big Sky Conference opponents while continuing to develop its game ahead of the next stage of the fall schedule. Throughout the weekend, the Vandals recorded several victories in both singles and doubles competition, highlighted by multiple close matches that tested their ability to perform under pressure.
In singles action, Eric Wang earned one of the weekend’s most notable victories, defeating Montana State’s Eddie Biss in a three-set battle. Wang took the opening set 6-4 before Biss responded with a 6-2 win in the second. Wang ultimately secured the match in a decisive third-set tiebreak, winning 7-6.
Valentin Glasl also recorded a singles victory against Montana State’s Max Calaquian. Glasl controlled the match to earn a straight-set win, taking the first set 6-3 before closing out the second set 7-5.
Mikolaj Lis added another strong performance against Montana State’s Reuben de Klerk. After winning the opening set 6-4, Lis dropped the second set 6-3. He responded in the final set, earning a 6-4 victory to secure the match and give Idaho another win against the host program.
Lis finished the tournament with four victories, making him one of the Vandals’ productive performers over the weekend. Following the competition, Lis reflected on the experience and the opportunities the tournament provided for the team.
“It was a really good week, really productive … with a lot of insights for all the players on the team,” Lis said. “We got some wins against Idaho State, against Montana State … it was really electric and amazing to compete in that facility.”
Although Idaho found success in several singles matches, the Vandals also faced difficult competition throughout the tournament. Xavier Martin fell to Montana State’s Ethan Masselis, losing 6-2 in the opening set and 6-3 in the second. Gabriel Moroder also came up short against Montana State’s Andre Stewart, dropping the match 6-3, 6-2.
Noe De Col faced two challenging matchups during the weekend. He lost to Montana State’s Biss 6-3 in both sets before facing Gareth Igesund in another closely contested match. De Col fell 7-5 in each set, finishing just short of forcing a third set.
The Vandals also found success in doubles competition, where several pairings delivered important victories. Moroder and Glasl defeated Idaho State’s De Visser brothers 6-4, giving Idaho another win against an in-state opponent.
Lis and Wang produced one of the weekend’s strongest doubles performances. The pair defeated Idaho State’s Ciguenza and Ilic in a 7-6 tiebreak, then continued their success against Montana State. Lis and Wang defeated the Bobcats’ De Klerk and Igesund by the same 7-6 score, earning back-to-back victories in closely contested doubles matches.
The results demonstrated the pair’s ability to compete in tight situations, where a single point can determine the outcome. Winning two matches by tiebreak also gave the Vandals valuable experience in high-pressure moments as they continue through the fall season.
Idaho experienced some setbacks in doubles play as well. Lis and Wang fell to Weber State’s Scholtz and Dinh Viet, while Martin and De Col lost a close match against Montana State’s Masselis and Calaquian, 7-5.
Despite the mixed results, the weekend provided Idaho with opportunities to test different pairings, compete against conference opponents and identify areas for continued improvement. The combination of singles and doubles victories gave the Vandals several positive takeaways as they move forward in their schedule.
The Bobcat Invitational also offered the team another chance to gain competitive experience outside of regular-season dual matches. With several matches decided by narrow margins, the tournament emphasized the importance of consistency, communication and execution during crucial points.
The Vandals will next turn their attention to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association championships, scheduled to begin Nov. 5. Idaho will look to carry the momentum from its successful matches in Bozeman into its next competition as the fall tennis season continues.