DES MOINES, Iowa – Utah State men's tennis (7-4, 0-0 MW) split their doubleheader in Des Moines, Iowa, as they swept Grand View, 7-0, and fell to Drake, 5-2.
"I felt like Drake did a better job of being aggressive and playing to win in big moments," said head coach James Wilson. "We played hard in doubles and almost pulled it out. In singles, I was proud of the way Felipe (Acosta), Sergiu (Bucur) and Duro (Opacic) competed. We have to improve and be prepared for Indiana on Sunday."
Against Grand View in doubles play, all three USU pairs won their match as freshman Rithvik Bollipalli and junior Sergiu Bucur won at the No. 1 spot, 6-2, as did sophomore Felipe Acosta and freshman Isaac Arevalo Gómez at the No. 2 spot, while junior Duro Opacic and freshman Daniel Bushamuka cruised to a 6-0 sweep at the No. 3 spot.
In singles play, all six Aggies won in straight sets, as Bucur, Acosta, Opacic and freshman Mitch Johnson recorded 6-0, 6-0 sweeps. Arevalo Gómez won his match, 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 1 spot and Bollipalli cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win.
Against Drake, Opacic and Bushamuka fell at the third doubles position, 6-4, while Bollipalli and Bucur won at the second position, 7-6. Drake won the the doubles point as Acosta and Arevalo Gómez lost their match, 7-6, at the second position.
In singles play, Drake won on courts six, four and one, all in straight sets to win the match. Both teams decided to keep play going as Acosta won his match at the No 3 spot in straight sets, 7-6, 6-1. Opacic also won his match on court five, 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 (12-10), while Bucur's match went to three sets at the No. 2 spot, but fell short.
Utah State will stay in Des Moines to face Indiana on Sunday, Feb. 17, at noon (MT).
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
Utah State 7, Grand View 0
Doubles
1. Rithvik Bollipalli/Sergiu Bucur (USU) def. Andree Stevensson/Yasha Litvak (GVU) 6-2
2. Felipe Acosta/Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) def. R. Correra da Silva/Ryan Kucera (GVU) 6-2
3. Duro Opacic/Daniel Bushamuka (USU) def. Ryan Lamke/Blake Beaune (GVU) 6-0
Singles
1. Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) def. Andree Stevensson (GVU) 6-2, 6-0
2. Sergiu Bucur (USU) def. Yasha Litvak (GVU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Felipe Acosta (USU) def. R. Correra da Silva (GVU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) def. Ryan Kucera (GVU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Duro Opacic (USU) def. Ryan Lamke (GVU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Mitch Johnson (USU) def. Blake Beaune (GVU) 6-0, 6-0
Match Notes:
Grand View 0-1
Utah State 7-3
RESULTS
Drake 5, Utah State 2
Doubles
1. Rithvik Bollipalli/Sergiu Bucur (USU) def. Vinny Gillespie/Barny Thorold (DU) 6-4
2. Bayo Philips/Finley Hall (DU) def. Felipe Acosta/Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) 7-6
3. Tom Hands/Calum MacGeoch (DU) def. Duro Opacic/Daniel Bushamuka (USU) 6-4
Singles
1. Vinny Gillespie (DU) def. Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Tom Hands (DU) def. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 (10-7)
3. Felipe Acosta (USU) def. Barny Thorold (DU) 7-6, 6-1
4. Bayo Philips (DU) def. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Duro Opacic (USU) def. Calum MacGeoch (DU) 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 (12-10)
6. Ben Clark (DU) def. Daniel Bushamuka (USU) 6-3, 6-3
Match Notes:
Utah State 7-4
Drake 5-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,1,3,5,2)
-USU-
