Men's Tennis Tops Idaho To Climb Big Sky Ladder

POCATELLO, Idaho -- The Idaho State men's tennis team won it's fifth-straight home match with a 6-1 victory over Idaho in Reed Gym Sunday afternoon. The Bengals fell behind in doubles play before rallying for the point and edged the Vandals in a series of tight singles matches.

The win places ISU in a tie for second place in the Big Sky Conference standings. The Bengals are now 7-8 with a 4-2 BSC mark. The Vandals fell to 5-11 with a 2-4 conference record.

"Today's win against Idaho was one of the best overall team performances that I've been a part of while at ISU," said Head Coach Mark Rodel. "Every single member of the team came out and played extremely well and competed hard from start to finish." 

Idaho began the contest with a 6-4 win at No. 1 singles, but Francis Filipovich and Lukas Ridemar evened the series with an identical result at No. 3. Gary Rendek and David Felix secured the doubles point for the Bengals with another narrow decision in a 7-5 win at No. 2.

Peter Trhac was the first out of the gates in singles play as he overwhelmed his opponent for a 6-1, 6-1 win. Idaho responded with its first and only win in a tightly contested match at No. 3. Esteban Santibanez defeated Fynn Lohse 7-5, 7-5 to put the Vandals on the board. 

Felix followed with a straight-sets victory at No. 1 which was decided by a slight 7-6 (5), 7-5 margin. Ridemar clinched the match with a comeback win at court No. 4. After falling 6-7 (5) in the first set, the freshman reset and won the final two sets 6-3, 7-5.

"I was very impressed with David Felix this weekend who won two singles matches and two doubles," Rodel said. "Today our freshman Lukas Ridemar was able to clinch the match for us. He made the score 4-1 and from there it seemed like the guys really loosened up and were able to finish off which made the score 6-1. However, that really doesn't really indicate how close the overall match was."

Rendek and Filipovich both defeated their opponents in straight sets to wrap up play in Reed Gym. Rendek won 6-2 in the first and commanded the tiebreak for the 7-6 (1) win in the second. Filipovich cruised to a 6-1 win in the first and closed play with a 7-5 victory in the second.

The Bengals will be on the road for the next two weekends. They face Montana and Montana State next Friday and Saturday before taking on Sacramento State April 14.

"I'm very pleased and now looking forward to the Montana teams next weekend," Rodel said.
Idaho State 6, Idaho 1

Singles competition
1. FELIX, David (ISU) def. Carlos Longhi Neto (UI) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
2. TRHAC, Peter (ISU) def. Valentin Popescu (UI) 6-1, 6-1
3. Esteban Santibanez (UI) def. LOHSE, Fynn (ISU) 7-5, 7-5
4. RIDEMAR, Lukas (ISU) def. Guilherme Scarpelli (UI) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5
5. RENDEK, Gary (ISU) def. Lucas Coutinho (UI) 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
6. FILIPOVICH, Francis (ISU) def. Bruno Casino (UI) 6-1, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Carlos Longhi Neto/Lucas Coutinho (UI) def. TRHAC, Peter/LOHSE, Fynn (ISU) 6-4
2. FELIX, David/RENDEK, Gary (ISU) def. Esteban Santibanez/Valentin Popescu (UI) 7-5
3. FILIPOVICH, Francis/RIDEMAR, Lukas (ISU) def. Guilherme Scarpelli/Bruno Casino (UI) 6-4

Match Notes:
Idaho 5-11 (2-4 BSC)
Idaho State 7-8 (4-2 BSC)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,1,4,5,6)