FARMINGTON, Utah (Jan. 14, 2026) – The Big Sky Men's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll tabbed Montana to win the conference in 2026, as the Grizzlies look to make a successful title defense and earn back-to-back championships. The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches, who could not vote for their own team.
The Griz received 48 points in Wednesday's coaches' poll, while earning six first-place votes.
Montana returns All-Big Sky First Team selection and tournament MVP Tom Bittner to the roster in 2026, alongside All-Big Sky honorees Baltazar Wiger-Nordas, Duncan McCall, and Johnny Wilkinson.
The Griz finished last season with a 19-7 overall record and 6-2 mark in Big Sky play, as Montana went on to win the tournament title in Phoenix with wins over Sacramento State, Idaho State, and Northern Arizona.
Northern Arizona, who won the 2025 regular-season title, was tabbed second in the 2026 preseason poll and received two first-place votes.
The 2026 Big Sky Conference Men’s Tennis Championship will take place April 23-25 in Phoenix, Arizona. The single-elimination tournament will feature six teams, with the top two seeds receiving a bye into the semifinal round. The winner of the championship will receive the Big Sky's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament.
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2026 Big Sky Men’s Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Montana (6) – 48
2. Northern Arizona (2) – 44
3. Idaho State – 35
4. Idaho – 33
5. Montana State – 24
6. Weber State – 17
7. Sacramento State – 12
8. Portland State – 11
Parenthesis denotes first-place vote