BOISE, Idaho – Utah State men's tennis freshman Mitch Johnson opened the first day of the Boise State-hosted Dar Walters Fall Classic with a pair of singles wins as he advanced to the quarterfinals of the Blue Bracket.

In singles, Johnson collected his first singles wins in his collegiate career, winning both his matches in the blue flight with a 6-3, 6-4 score against Air Force's Jordan Azuma followed by a three-set win against Ignatius Castelino of Denver 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Freshman Rithvik Bollipalli had the same result in the Dar Walters bracket round of 32 match against Portland State's Lucas Branco, winning, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. In the round of 16, Bollipalli won his first set against Matt Perkins of Gonzaga 7-6 (5), but lost the final two sets 3-6, 3-6. Also in the orange flight's round of 32, freshman Daniel Bushamuka won a nail bitter in the first set with a 7-6 score against Max Korkh of Montana, but couldn't hold on, losing the final two sets 4-6, 3-7. In the round of 16, junior Sergiu Bucur faced Gonzaga's Hunter Egger, losing in straight sets 2-6, 4-6. 

In doubles, Bushamuka and Johnson faced Portland State's Lucas Branco and Sam Roberts, falling by a 7-5 score, while Bucur and Bolliaplli lost to Bryan Husin and Michael Quinn of Gonzaga 6-1.

Action resumes for the Aggies Saturday as USU will participate in singles and doubles at the Dar Walters Fall Classic

Fans can follow USU's men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at USUTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter at @USUAthletics, on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on Instagram at @USUAthletics.

RESULTS
Singles (Dar Walters Bracket)
Round of 32
Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) def. Lucas Branco (Portland State) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
Max Korkh (Montana) def. Daniel Bushamuka (USU) 6-7, 6-4, 7-3

Round of 16
Hunter Egger (Gonzaga) def. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-2, 6-4
Matt Perkins (Gonzaga) def. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3

Round of 16 (Back Draw)
Arshak Ghazaryan (Seattle) def. Daniel Bushamuka (USU) 6-2, 6-0

Blue Bracket
Round of 32
Mitch Johnson (USU) def. Jordan Azuma (Air Force)  6-3, 6-4

Round of 16
Mitch Johnson (USU) def. Ignatius Castelino (Denver) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

Doubles (Patton Bracket)
Round of 32
Bryan Husin/Michael Quinn (Gonzaga) def. Sergiu Bucur/Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) 6-1
Lucas Branco/Sam Roberts (Portland State) def. Daniel Bushamuka/Mitch Johnson (USU) 7-5

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