Grand Forks, N.D. - The North Dakota men's tennis team participated in its first Big Sky Conference match of the season on Friday afternoon falling to Montana State by a score of 7-0 at Choice Health and Fitness Center.

"It was an eye opener for us," said head coach Tom Wynne. "They were very solid all the way through the line up and we had a couple opportunities, but they were just the better team."

Montana State began the match strong, earning the doubles point by winning two of the three matches. Junior Josh Oothoudt (Minot, N.D.) and freshman Connor Oberle (Excelsior, Minn.) teamed for North Dakota's lone doubles win by defeating Nick Brandes and Diego Campos by a score of 8-5 in No. 1 doubles.

MSU continued to play strong, winning all six singles matches. The match between junior Ryan McGuigan (Fargo, N.D.) and Javier Martin Morillas went to three sets, with Morillas winning by scores of 6-7, 6-3, 10-1.

UND falls to 1-4 on the season with the loss.

North Dakota will now travel to the west coast for three matches. They will take on Portland State at 12:30 p.m. on March 10.

Montana State 7, North Dakota 0

Singles competition

1. BRANDES, Nick (MSU) def. OOTHOUDT, Josh (UND_M) 6-3, 6-4

2. MARTIN-MORILLAS, J. (MSU) def. MCGUIGAN, Ryan (UND_M) 6-7, 6-3, 10-1

3. SCHLEUTER, Markus (MSU) def. OBERLE, Conner (UND_M) 6-2, 6-4

4. CAMPOS, Diego (MSU) def. LEE, Joe (UND_M) 6-0, 6-0

5. JAMES, Harry (MSU) def. BIERNAT, Will (UND_M) 6-0, 6-3

6. SIVASUBRAMANIAM, P. (MSU) def. BERGSTROM, David (UND_M) 6-3, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. OOTHOUDT, Josh/OBERLE, Conner (UND_M) def. BRANDES, Nick/CAMPOS, Diego (MSU) 8-5

2. SCHLEUTER, Markus/MARTIN-MORILLAS, J. (MSU) def. MCGUIGAN, Ryan/LEE, Joe (UND_M) 8-6

3. SIVASUBRAMANIAM, P./JAMES, Harry (MSU) def. VIGEN, Jared/BERGSTROM, David (UND_M) 8-5