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POCATELLO, Idaho – Freshman Gilberto Azevedo and sophomore Nate Gross started of the season with singles victories in Idaho State's 5-2 loss to Utah State at Reed Gym Wednesday afternoon.
G. Azevedo nearly crushed his opponent Frederick Peterson at the No. 3 spot in a 6-1, 6-2 decision in his first collegiate match. G. Azevedo captured the first five games before Peterson could put himself on the scoreboard and in the second set Azevedo opened with a four-game run.
“He was at a different level of tennis than the other kid,” said Head Coach Bobby Goeltz of G. Azevedo's play.
Sophomore Gross dispelled of Utah State's Lenny Whiting in a 7-5, 6-2 victory at the No. 6 spot marking the second consecutive season opening singles victory for the Bengal. In his first season at ISU, Gross defeated Nate Ballam of Utah State 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 5 spot to begin his collegiate career.
“Nate is a very tough player,” said Goeltz. “He hangs in there and fights through every match.”
Senior Danel Barrenechea played his first match at the No. 1 spot pushing Aggie Sven Poslusny to a three set contest. Barrenechea fought his way back from being down a break to the Aggie at 4-5 holding both of his services to push the match to a tiebreaker where Barrenechea overcame Poslusny 7-3. However, the tides turned and Poslusny went on to capture the next two sets 6-4, 6-2.
“Danel has never played at the No. 1 position, but generally at one and two, they are always good players that never give up. Utah State has played three more matches than us so they have their legs. Danel just ran out of gas,” said Goeltz.
Idaho State also saw good competition from freshman Diego Cavalcanti who fell in a ten-point tiebreaker for the third set to Alex Thatcher. After falling 6-3 in the first set and with Thatcher ahead by two games, Cavalcanti won three straight games, two on serve, to go up a break. He held his lead continuing to hold his service throughout the game capturing a 7-5 set. He then was overcome 10-5 in the tiebreaker.
Idaho State also had a competitive bout in the doubles contests, but was overcome in all three contests to start the match down 0-1. Azevedo and Cavalcanti, both freshmen, faced off against senior Jakob Asplund and freshman Fredrik Peterson at the No. 2 spot. Cavalcanti held service to push the match to a 6-6 tie, but Utah State was able to finish.
“We had a lot of good competition out here today, but Utah State has played several more matches than us.” said Goeltz. “The first real test will be Friday.”
On Friday, Jan. 29 Idaho State will host Montana in a non-conference match at Reed Gym. The dual match is set to start at 1:00 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
Utah State vs Idaho State
Jan 26, 2011 at Pocatello, Idaho
(Reed Gym - Indoors)
Utah State 5, Idaho State 2
Singles competition
1. POSLUSNY,Sven (USU) def. BARRENECHEA,Danel (ISU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2
2. ASPLUND,Jakob (USU) def. PATE,Dakota (ISU) 6-1, 6-4
3. AZEVEDO,Gilberto (ISU) def. PETERSON,Fredrik (USU) 6-1, 6-2
4. MARCHANT,Bryan (USU) def. PATE,Colton (ISU) 6-4, 7-5
5. THATCHER,Alex (USU) def. CAVALCANTI,Diego (ISU) 6-3, 5-7, 10-5
6. GROSS,Nate (ISU) def. WHITING,Lenny (USU) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. MARCHANT,Bryan/POSLUSNY,Sven (USU) def. BUCKINGHAM,Dan/PATE,Dakota (ISU) 8-3
2. ASPLUND,Jakob/PETERSON,Fredrik (USU) def. AZEVEDO,Gilberto/CAVALCANTI,Diego (ISU) 8-6
3. THATCHER,Alex/BALLAM,Nate (USU) def. BARRENECHEA,Danel/GROSS,Nate (ISU) 8-5
Match Notes:
Utah State 2-2
Idaho State 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,3,4,6,5)
Official: Gene Galloway T-5:50 A-62
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