POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho State men's tennis hosted the 2025 Idaho State Invitational from September 19–21, welcoming players from Montana, Montana State, and Utah State to Cappel Park and Reed Gym's indoor courts. The Bengals showcased depth throughout the three-day event, highlighted by championship match appearances in both singles and doubles play.
Doubles Recap
The tandem of Lewie Bouman and Sep de Visser delivered the Bengals' top result of the weekend, advancing all the way to the doubles championship match. The duo opened with an 8–5 win over Montana State's Elaroussy/Stewart and followed that with a gritty 8–7 (7-5) victory against Utah State's Goubin/Rigby. In the semifinals, Bouman and De Visser defeated fellow Bengals Quentin Lamothe and Hayden Ciguenza, 8–3. Their run ended in the final against Montana's Townes/Wilkinson in a narrow 7-8 (2-7) loss.
Valentino De Pellegrin and Luka Vujacic also made a strong push to the semifinals, taking down Utah State's Alex/Medved 8–5 before being edged in a dramatic 7-8 (9-11) battle by Montana's Townes/Wilkinson.
Lamothe and Ciguenza picked up an opening-round win over Montana's Upton/Wiger-Nordas (8–3) before falling to their Bengal teammates Bouman/De Visser in the semis. Tyler Dalos and Sam Wensley faced a tough first-round draw and dropped their opener to Montana's Townes/Wilkinson.
Singles Recap
Valentino De Pellegrin posted the Bengals' best singles run, reaching the championship match. He opened with a straight-set win over Montana's Johnny Wilkinson (7–6 [7–4], 6–2), followed by a dominant 6–1, 6–3 victory over Montana State's Yassin Elaroussy. In the semifinals, De Pellegrin outlasted teammate Lewie Bouman 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 before falling to eventual champion Baltazar Wiger-Nordas of Montana in the final, 1–6, 2–6.
Lewie Bouman strung together two strong wins of his own, rallying past Montana's Matthew Upton 1–6, 7–6 (7–4), 7–6 (7–5), then defeating Utah State's Keanu Rigby 6–2, 6–3 before running into De Pellegrin in the all-ISU semifinal.
Luka Vujacic also enjoyed a deep run, grinding out a three-set win over Utah State's Jakub Medved (5–7, 6–3, 6–1) and a pair of tiebreaks against Montana's Joseph Townes (7–6 [7–2], 7–6 [7–5]). His tournament ended with a competitive loss to eventual champion, Wiger-Nordas (2–6, 7–5, 3–6), in the semifinal round.
Elsewhere, Quentin Lamothe earned a 6–1, 7–5 win over Montana State's David Ismanescu before falling in three sets to Townes. Sam Wensley pushed Utah State's Rigby to three sets in a 7–6 (7–4), 4–6, 3–6 defeat, while Tyler Dalos also fell to Rigby (4–6, 6–4, 3–6). Rafael Maya (1–6, 5–7 vs. Emmanuel Alex, USU), Sep de Visser (2–6, 1–6 vs. Andre Stewart, MSU), and Hayden Ciguenza (1–6, 7–6 [7–1], 6–7 [3–7] vs. Wiger-Nordas, UM) each bowed out after hard-fought openers.
Bengal Highlights
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Bouman/De Visser advanced to the doubles final, defeating teammates Lamothe/Ciguenza in an all-ISU semifinal before falling in a tiebreak to Montana in the final.
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De Pellegrin powered through three straight singles wins to reach the final, including a three-set semifinal win over Bouman.
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Vujacic scored two dramatic victories, capped by a pair of tiebreaks over Montana's Townes, before bowing out in the semi's.
From the Coach
Head coach Oliver Good was encouraged by the Bengals' showing on their home courts.
"It was a very positive weekend where we got in some great match play. This helps us continue to progress as a team. I think we showed great depth and I'm excited for the next tournament in Utah in a couple of weeks."
Up Next
The Bengals will now turn their attention to the University of Utah Invitational, in Salt Lake City, UT on October 3-5.
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