SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Idaho State men's tennis team had a successful campaign in doubles before falling 4-1 to Utah on Sunday afternoon. The Bengals also fell 4-2 to UC Irvine on Saturday after a string of tight matches. The two losses bring Idaho State to 2-5 this season with conference play around the corner.
"In reviewing our preseason to date, our overall record is not impressive," said Head Coach
Mark Rodel. "However, if you look a little closer at the individual results you'll see just how close and competitive ISU tennis is. That's been against five of the best teams in tennis that are perennially in the top 50 in Boise, Gonzaga, Utah State, UC Irvine and Utah. Our players have come out each time and competed hard and they are improving."
The Bengals claimed the doubles point against Utah with wins at the No. 1 and 2 positions.
Peter Trhac and
Fynn Lohse paired for a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles before
David Felix and
Gary Rendek topped their opposition 6-3.
Francis Filipovich and
Lukas Ridemar were also up 6-5 before the point was decided.
"We put together a new lineup today and finally were really satisfied with the performances and results," Rodel said. "We are confident now that we have good combinations going into Big Sky."
The Bengals fought, but were unable to take a set from Utah in singles play. Two of the matches were never finished. Rendek had lost his first set but was in a 6-6 tie in the second before play was suspended. Filipovich dropped a tight first set 7-5 and was tied 3-3 in the second.
On Saturday, the Bengals fell 4-2 to UC Irvine. Idaho State dropped the doubles point after two 6-4 losses at the No. 1 and 3 positions. UC Irvine won the first two contests at singles before Rendek and Trhac earned ISU two points. The Anteaters clinched the match with a narrow win at No. 3 singles.
Rendek topped UCI's Aaron Bailey in straight sets with a 6-4, 6-3 decision for ISU's first point of the match. Trhac followed with a comeback victory against Luis Lopez. After dropping the first set 3-6, he took a 6-4 win to force a third. He crushed his opposition in the deciding set with a 6-0 victory to claim the match.
Next week the Bengals open conference play at home. They host Northern Colorado Saturday and Eastern Washington Sunday. Both matches begin at 10 a.m. in Reed Gym.
"As a coach you often question putting together such a difficult schedule, but I feel strongly that this will only play out in a positive light in the long term as we work towards our goal in the Big Sky Conference," Rodel said. "I've been impressed by our senior leadership in
David Felix and
Peter Trhac on the court and I've got four players that have steadily improved and have been very impressive. I look forward to the rest of the season and Big Sky play coming up shortly."
Utah 4, Idaho State 1
Singles competition
1. Dan Little (UU) def. TRHAC, Peter (ISU) 6-4, 6-3
2. David Micevski (UU) def. FELIX, David (ISU), by default
3. Slava Shainyan (UU) def. LOHSE, Fynn (ISU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Russell Benkaim (UU) def. RIDEMAR, Lukas (ISU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Mathias Gavelin (UU) vs. RENDEK, Gary (ISU) 6-2, 6-6, unfinished
6. Azat Hankuliyev (UU) vs. FILIPOVICH, Francis (ISU) 7-5, 3-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. TRHAC, Peter/LOHSE, Fynn (ISU) def. Dan Little/Russell Benkaim (UU) 6-4
2. FELIX, David/RENDEK, Gary (ISU) def. David Micevski/Azat Hankuliyev (UU) 6-3
3. Slava Shainyan/Mathias Gavelin (UU) vs. FILIPOVICH, Francis/RIDEMAR, Lukas (ISU) 5-6, unfinished
Match Notes:
Idaho State 2-5
Utah 7-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,3,4,1)
UC Irvine 4, Idaho State 2
Singles competition
1. FELIX, David (ISU) vs. Sasha Krasnov (UCI) 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 4-3, unfinished
2. TRHAC, Peter (ISU) def. Luis Lopez (UCI) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
3. Mateusz Smolicki (UCI) def. LOHSE, Fynn (ISU) 7-5, 0-6, 7-6 (10-8)
4. Mason Hansen (UCI) def. RIDEMAR, Lukas (ISU) 6-2, 6-1
5. RENDEK, Gary (ISU) def. Aaron Bailey (UCI) 6-4, 6-3
6. Daniel Gealer (UCI) def. FILIPOVICH, Francis (ISU) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Vatsal Bajpai/Mateusz Smolicki (UCI) def. TRHAC, Peter/LOHSE, Fynn (ISU) 6-4
2. FELIX, David/RIDEMAR, Lukas (ISU) vs. Mason Hansen/Daniel Gealer (UCI) 4-5, unfinished
3. Luis Lopez/Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI) def. RENDEK, Gary/FILIPOVICH, Francis (ISU) 6-4
Match Notes:
UC Irvine 3-3
Idaho State 2-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,6,5,2,3)
