Results PDF
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State men's tennis team clinched a berth to the Big Sky Conference tournament for the first time since 2013 with a 4-3 win over Weber State Tuesday afternoon at the tennis courts at Reed Gym. The Bengals battled for nearly four-and-a-half hours before sealing their trip to the postseason.
"Today was Senior Day for five of our players, and that was pretty special," Head Coach
Mark Rodel said. "We switched up doubles play to try to create a spark, but we were unable to win the doubles point. We went down 3-1 and won the final three singles matches. Everybody played outstanding in every single position. They competed extremely well."
Weber State (7-11, 4-5 BSC) swept doubles play, besting Idaho State (12-8, 7-4 BSC) 6-2 at No. 1 doubles and securing the doubles point with a 7-6 (2-0) battle at No. 3 doubles.
The Bengals picked up their first singles win early as
Quentin Wacquez bested WSU's Stefan Cooper in two sets, 6-4, 4-3. WSU responded with a 7-5, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles to take a 3-1 lead in the match, but the Bengals won three-straight matches to seal win.
Francis Filipovich started ISU's comeback with a three-set battle at No. 4 singles, besting WSU's Eddie Chen 5-7, 6-4, 6-0.
Keegan Sullivan followed with a 6-0, 7-5 win at No. 6 to tie the match 3-3.
Idaho State's
Bjorn Scheepbouwer sealed the Bengals' 4-3 win with a two-and-a-half hour long battle at No. 5 singles; Scheepbouwer bested Weber State's Michiel Van Schoor 3-6, 7-6 (3-0), 6-3 for the win.
"We clinched the win following an epic battle that was at least two-and-a-half hours long," Rodel said. "Both players were cramping throughout. It was a test of will at the end, and Bjorn was able to pull through."
With the win, the Bengals clinched a spot in the Big Sky Conference tournament April 27-30 in Phoenix, Ariz. It's the first time since 2013 that Idaho State will make a trip to postseason play.
"I'm just really please how we've progressed and what we've ended up accomplishing," Rodel said. "It's just fantastic to get the opportunity to compete for a championship. Now, the season resets."
Idaho State 4, Weber State 3
Singles competition
1. YIN, Shao-Po (Jack) (WSU) def. EDIN,Sebastian (ISU) 6-4, 6-2
2. WACQUEZ,Quentin (ISU) def. COOPER, Stefan (WSU) 6-4, 4-3
3. VAN WYK, Kris (WSU) def. GOODWIN,Josh (ISU) 7-5, 6-3
4. FILIPOVICH,Francis (ISU) def. CHEN, Hou-En (Eddie) (WSU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-0
5. SCHEEPBOUWER,Bjorn (ISU) def. VAN SCHOOR, Michiel (WSU) 3-6, 7-6 (3-0), 6-3
6. SULLIVAN,Keegan (ISU) def. WALKUSZ, Cezary (WSU) 6-0, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. YIN, Shao-Po (Jack)/COOPER, Stefan (WSU) def. EDIN,Sebastian/SCHEEPBOUWER,Bjorn (ISU) 6-2
2. WACQUEZ,Quentin/FILIPOVICH,Francis (ISU) vs. VAN WYK, Kris/VAN SCHOOR, Michiel (WSU) 6-5, unfinished
3. WALKUSZ, Cezary/CHEN, Hou-En (Eddie) (WSU) def. GOODWIN,Josh/SULLIVAN,Keegan (ISU) 7-6 (2-0)
Match Notes:
Weber State 7-11, 4-5 BSC
Idaho State 12-8, 7-4 BSC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (2,1,3,4,6,5)
