LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The Idaho State men's tennis team completed their fall slate with the Larry Easley Memorial Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada where UNLV hosted the Bengals along with Louisiana and Utah State.
Idaho State's play was highlighted by Andreas Kramer's singles flight 2 championship victory as well as Ege Cankus and Hiroki Fujita bringing home the doubles championship. Along with all 3 Bengals' doubles team finishing first, second, and third.
The Bengals had seven players competing in singles and 3 teams playing in the doubles matches.
Beginning in the doubles matches, the first duo for ISU was Andreas Kramer and Wikus Robbertse. The Bengal tandem downed Martirosian/Pinheria from Utah State in the frist round 6-4, and in the second-round the group would take down Postea/Chueca from Louisiana 6-2 to reach the semifinal round. In the semis fellow ISU tandem Ege Cankus and Hiroki Fujita would defeat Kramer and Robbertse 6-3. After the loss Kramer and Robbertse would look to bounce-back in the third-place doubles match, and did just that, downing their UNLV opponents 6-3 and taking home third place.
The next pairing for the Bengals was Valentino De Pellegrin and Viktor Sklenka. The pair earned a first round bye, and in the second round showed why, dominating their UNLV opponents, Bailey/Navarro, 6-2, and edging out their semi-final UNLV matchups, Rsovac/Hirano, 7-6 to earn a spot in the championships where ISU teammates Cankus and Fujita were waiting for them.
The final tandem competing in the Orange and Black was Hiroki Fujita and Ege Cankus. The duo showed why they deserved to bring home the title each day at this tournament. Also earning a first round bye, the group would narrowly defeat their second-round UNLV opponents, Omberg/Atherton. In the semifinal and championship rounds the group would need to go through their own teammates in each, and did just that. Fujita and Cankus were able to hand Kramer and Robbertse a loss in the semis and then take home the championship over De Pellegrin and Sklenka, winning 6-4.
Picking up in the singles matches, there were two "flights". In singles flight one for ISU was Victor Sklenka and Valentino De Pellegrin. Victor Sklenka opened round one cruising to victory over his UNLV's Rsovac 6-1, 6-1, and in the semis, he would be tested, but still pull out the victory over Louisiana's Gonzalez, winning in three sets 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. Sklenka would advance to the finals, but could not close it out, falling to UNLV's Omberg 6-4, 3-6, 4-6.
Valentino De Pellegrin, also in flight one, would also win his first-round match, defeating Utah State's Fenollar 7-6, 6-4. In the semifinal round De Pellegrin could not repeat his same magic from the previous day, falling to a UNLV's Omberg 3-6, 4-6. De Pellegrin would move to the third-place match in flight one, and win third place, after his straight set victory over Louisiana's Gonzalez 6-4, 6-4.
In flight two for Idaho State was Andreas Kramer, Wikus Robbertse, Hiroki Fujita, and Ege Cankus. Wikus Robbertse got the Bengals going at the top of the bracket, taking care of his Ragin' Cajun opponent 6-2, 6-4, but would fall in the second round to a UNLV's Aaron Bailey 2-6, 3-6. In his one consolation match Robbertse took it to Utah State's Martirosian, downing him 6-4, 6-0.
Hiroki Fujita also earned a first round win in flight two, coming back to down UNLV's Navarro in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. However, in the second-round fellow ISU teammate Andreas Kramer would not let Fujita get much going, as Fujita fell to Kramer 1-6, 6-7. In Fujita's consolation matches he defeated Louisiana's Postea 6-3, 7-5, and UNLV's Skinner 6-3, 6-1.
In the first round of flight two Ege Cankus could not clinch the W, falling to a UNLV's Skinner 4-6, 4-6, but in his consolation matches Cankus was far from finished. Cankus would defeat his Rajin' Cajun matchup 6-3, 2-6, 10-8, and then the next day go out and do it again to UNLV's Navarro 6-3, 4-6, 10-2.
The next Bengal competing in the singles flight two was JW Altman. Altman opened up with a first round loss to UNLV's Ty Hirano. The next day Altman looked to bounce back, but could not do so, falling to UNLV's Navarro 0-6, 2-6. For his final consolation match Altman looked to secure the win, but was unable to pull through, losing to Utah State's Martirosian 4-6, 6-7.
The final Bengal competing in the singles flight two was Andreas Kramer. Kramer earned a first-round bye, but would face off with teammate Hiroki Fujita in the second-round. Kramer gave it to his teammate, finishing Fujita off in straight sets 6-1, 7-6, and advancing to the semifinal round. In the semis Kramer would defeat UNLV's Skinner 7-5, 6-3, and move on to face UNLV's Bailey in the championships. In the Sunday matinee, Kramer would be able to complete the come from behind victory, winning in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to bring home the singles flight two crown.
Head coach Oliver Good shared his thoughts on the team's play over the weekend, "It was a great performance by our whole team this weekend. I was glad for Ege and Hiroki to play so well to win the doubles title, but again even more pleased that our teams finished first, second, and third in doubles. Andy was really impressive to win his singles draw. He is an outstanding player and a great leader for our team. Victor making another singles final and playing such a high quality match was fitting for his fall. He is a very hard worker and it is showing in his performances. Our first match of the Spring is back in Las Vegas against UNLV, and we know they are going to be ready to go. We need to do everything we can to prepare well for the start of the season, and keep building on from our fall."
The Larry Easley Memorial Classic concluded Idaho State men's tennis' fall schedule. The Bengals will resume their season in the spring of 2024.
