March 1, 2001

LOGAN, Utah - After winning three of its previous four matches, Utah State's men's tennis team dropped a closely contested match with Montana State by a 4-3 count here on Thursday. The loss dropped USU to 3-6 on the season, while Montana State improved to an identical 3-6.

"It was a heart-breaker," said USU head coach Chris Wright. "It was a great battle, but we just needed a couple more bounces."

Montana State claimed the doubles point in what was basically the key to the match as the two teams split the six singles matches. The match was so close in singles play that four of the six matches were decided in three sets as the only two matches that were decided in two sets were at number five and number six.

Tad Hinze and Dan Baird posted victories for the Aggies at five and six singles respectively. Hinze won his match 6-0, 6-3, while Baird cruised 6-2, 6-2.

Jonah Nelson won at number two singles, while Andy Madersbacher (number one singles), Tim Burrell (three), and Ryan Burbidge (four) all lost three-set contests.

The Aggies will be off until competing in a tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii during spring break March 11-17.

MONTANA STATE 4, UTAH STATE 3

Singles

#1 -- Thijs Goossens (MSU) def. Andy Madersbacher, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3

#2 -- Jonah Nelson (USU) def. Lukas Mazur, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3

#3 -- B.J. Hauck (MSU) def. Tim Burrell, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

#4 -- Chris Tokar (MSU) def. Ryan Burbidge, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6

#5 -- Tad Hinze (USU) def. Jason Swanson, 6-0, 6-3

#6 -- Dan Baird (USU) def. Jesse Peach, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles

#1 -- Goossens/Hauck (MSU) def. Madersbacher/Clayton Thomas, 8-2

#2 -- Hauck/Mazur (MSU) def. Nelson/Burrell, 8-2

#3 -- Baird/Burbidge (USU) def. Swanson/Thompson, 8-6