BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho State men's tennis team lost a tight match to Boise State Sunday afternoon. The Bengals won the doubles point to open play, but fell 4-3 after going 2-4 in singles play.
"Unfortunately, we experienced a 4-3 loss which is never fun," said Head Coach
Mark Rodel. "On the same token, the guys came to compete and played exceptionally well led by seniors
David Felix and
Peter Trhac who won in both doubles and one and two singles. Right throughout the match it was extremely close."
The Bengals took the early lead after a narrow 7-5 win at No. 2 doubles from
Fynn Lohse and
Gary Rendek.
Francis Filipovich and
Lukas Ridemar were barely edged 7-6 (7-5) at No. 3 doubles before Felix and Trhac clinched the point with an identical result but in ISU's favor.
Boise State responded with four straight wins to open singles play at positions 3-6. Of the four losses, Filipovich played the closest match. He came just shy of winning the first set after BSU's Simon Stenlund won the tiebreak 7-6 (7-5) and fell 6-2 in the second set.
Despite BSU having already sealed the match. Idaho State's Felix and Trhac battled their way to impressive victories. Felix dropped the first set 3-6 before cruising to 6-3 and 6-2 wins in the final two sets.
Trhac made quick work of his opponent in the first set with a 6-1 win, but fell 3-6 in the second. He and Boise State's Max Blancaneaux were the final players on the court as they fought for the last point of the match. Trhac was able to seal the win with a 7-6 (8-6) victory.
"The positive we can take from it is it has definitely lent itself to some optimism as we move closer towards Big Sky play," Rodel said. "It gives me a few more things to work on with the guys in order to put us in a position to compete for the Big Sky title which is the ultimate goal.
The men's team hosts its first home match of the season next week. The Bengals welcome Colorado Mesa University into Reed Gym at 5:30 p.m. Friday night.
Boise State 4, Idaho State 3
Singles competition
1. Felix,David (ISU) def. Jack Heslin (BSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. Trhac,Peter (ISU) def. Max Blancaneaux (BSU) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6)
3. Luka Soskic (BSU) def. Ridemar,Lukas (ISU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Simon Arca Costas (BSU) def. Lohse,Fynn (ISU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Wyatt DeMulling (BSU) def. Rendek,Gary (ISU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Simon Stenlund (BSU) def. Filipovich,Francis (ISU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Felix,David/Trhac,Peter (ISU) def. Luka Soskic/Jack Heslin (BSU) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Lohse,Fynn/Rendek,Gary (ISU) def. Max Blancaneaux/Simon Arca Costas (BSU) 7-5
3. Simon Stenlund/Stefan Lalovic (BSU) def. Filipovich,Francis/Ridemar,Lukas (ISU) 7-6 (7-5)
Match Notes:
Idaho State 1-2
Boise State 3-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,3,5,6,1,2)
