Feb. 12, 2008
Results
Complete ISU vs. Weber State Box Score 
Pocatello, ID--The Bengal men were defeated by rival Weber State 6-1 in the season opener at home on Tuesday afternoon. Weber State improves their season record to 2-5 after a tough January season. Three Bengals competed in their first match as Bengals. Senior, Marc Pijoan scored the lone win at the number one singles spot after returning from a medical red-shirt last season.
"Mentally it was pretty tough," said Pijoan of his 6-4, 6-3 victory over Henning Hipp. Pijoan has only competed in one contest since last spring when he played in the fall at a Las Vegas Tournament. Pijoan recognizes the attitude it takes to continue winning. "I just have to keep fighting, hopefully that will help the whole team. Not just me."
Pijoan started his singles set by holding serve, but so did Hipp. Both players held serve until the last game of the first serve when Pijoan broke Hipp to take the set 6-4. This important game led Pijoan into a three-game lead in the second set before Hipp held service at 3-1. Marc fought back and battled with the Wildcat until he broke Hipp in the final game of the second set holding Hipp to three games.
Freshman, Danel Barrenechea fought hard in his first match for the Bengals at the number three spot but was overcome by Sascha Kiehne in a super ten-point tie breaker, 10-7, for the third set. Barrenechea took the first set 7-5, but fell in the second set 6-3. Javier Royo, a sophomore, who also played his first match for the Bengals had a tougher match then the score reflected. Royo was defeated by Fabio Mancarella, who played the first spot for Weber State last season, 6-2, 6-3 at the number two spot.
Freshman Alex Buceta made an excellent comeback in his second set but was defeeated in his first match for the Bengals. Buceta won three games in a row after he broke Nick Plum in the second set at 2-4. Sophomore Jeremy Atkin fought back in the first set when he was down 1-4 then held service to win three games in a row. Eventually Atkin was over taken by Chris Williams 6-4, 6-0 at the number five spot.
The number six singles spot and third doubles spot were forfeited. The Bengals competed well in the doubles contests holding the score tight until the finish. The number one doubles team Pijoan and Barrenechea fell to Kiehne and Mancarella 8-5. Royo and Buceta were overcome by Hipp and Plum 8-6 at the number two spot.
"I see it as a turn around match," said head men's and women's tennis coach Bobby Goeltz. "It's early in the season still." The Bengals will have the chance to turn around their 0-1 season start at their double header on Saturday at home against Portland State at 10 a.m. and Air Force at 1 p.m. in Reed Gym.
