Men's Tennis Battles, Falls 4-3 to Montana State

Results PDF

POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State men's tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to visiting Montana State Saturday at Reed Gym. The Bengals are still searching for their first season win, but Head Coach Mark Rodel has seen vast improvements in their play thus far.

"I was extremely impressed by the three matches we won today," Rodel said. "Montana State is perennially a top four or five team in the Big Sky Conference, and to play them this tight this early is exciting."

Idaho State is excelling in singles play, splitting matches with the Bobcats at three apiece. ISU dropped its first singles match to MSU, as junior Bjorn Sheepbower fell to Harry James 6-4, 6-3. However, the Bengals evened up singles play as junior Sebastian Edin battled the Bobcats' Kellen Bates at the No. 1 singles position for the 7-6, 6-3 win.

The Bengals would drop the next two singles matches, giving the Bobcats a 3-1 edge in singles play, but ISU responded winning the final two singles matches for the even 3-3 split. Freshman Francis Filipovich defeated Charlie Edgecombe 6-0, 6-2 at the No. 5 singles position, while junior Haseeb Khan bested Mateus Ceolin of MSU at the No. 6 singles position 6-2, 7-6.

However, the Achilles heel for this ISU squad has been the doubles point, having won just one doubles match all season. Saturday was no exception, as MSU claimed the doubles point as juniors Josh Goodwin and Sheepbouwer were defeated by MSU's Rok Sitar and Bates 6-2 followed by the defeat of juniors Sebastian and William Edin to MSU's Alexander Flink and James 6-3.

"There were some really good performances," Rodel said. "Unfortunately, we played them tight again. I feel like it came down to belief in a few matches. There's just a little too much negativity and trying to defend as opposed to just going out and playing...we still have a lot of work to do on the doubles."

The Bengals are back in action Feb. 15 as they host the Broncos of Boise State at the Juniper Hills Country Club in Pocatello, Idaho at 12 p.m.

Montana State 4, Idaho State 3
Singles competition
1. Sebastian Edin (ISU) def. BATES, Kellen (MSU) 7-6, 6-3
2. FLINK, Alexander (MSU) def. William Edin (ISU) 7-5, 7-6
3. JAMES, Harry (MSU) def. Bjorn Scheepbouwer (ISU) 6-4, 6-3
4. SITAR, Rok (MSU) def. Josh Goodwin (ISU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
5. Francis Filipovich (ISU) def. EDGECOMBE, Charlie (MSU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Haseeb Khan (ISU) def. CEOLIN, Mateus (MSU) 6-2, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. FLINK, Alexander/JAMES, Harry (MSU) def. Sebastian Edin/William Edin (ISU) 6-3
2. BATES, Kellen/SITAR, Rok (MSU) def. Bjorn Scheepbouwer/Josh Goodwin (ISU) 6-2
3. Francis Filipovich/Haseeb Khan (ISU) vs. CEOLIN, Mateus/HARVALA, Dylan (MSU) 4-5, unfinished

Match Notes:
Montana State 1-4
Idaho State 0-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,1,2,4,5,6)
T-3:50