LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Utah State men's tennis (11-4, 1-0 MW) opened the conference season with a 4-1 victory over UNLV (9-4, 1-0 MW) on Friday afternoon at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
"After a rough start, I was proud of the way we bounced back and played hard in singles," said head coach James Wilson. "For Isaac (Arevalo Gómez), Jose (Carvajal) and Felipe (Acosta) to get those quick wins really gave us some momentum. Now we have to be ready for UTSA at home on Sunday."
The Aggies opened doubles play with a win at the number three spot as sophomore Felipe Acosta and junior Duro Opacic earned the victory, however, the Rebels would go on to win the doubles point as they won at the number one and two spot.
In singles play, the Aggies' No. 111th-ranked freshman Isaac Arevalo Gómez tied things up with a 6-2, 6-2 win at the No. 1 spot. Sophomore Jose Carvajal made it a 2-1 contest as he recorded a 7-5, 6-0 victory at the No. 3 spot. Sophomore Felipe Acosta cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 4 spot, making it a 3-1 contest. After losing the first set at the No. 6 spot, Opacic won his final two sets, 6-3, 6-1, to capture the victory.
USU will return home for a match against UTSA (10-3, 0-0 C-USA) on Sunday, March 17, a 1 p.m., at the Outdoor Tennis Courts, weather permitting.
Fans can follow USU's Men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram @USUMensTennis. 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 4, UNLV 1
Doubles
1. Eric Samuelsson/Clayton Alenik (UNLV) def. Isaac Arevalo Gómez/Jose Carvajal (USU) 6-2
2. Jordan Sauer/Olle Thestrup (UNLV) def. Rithvik Bollipalli/Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-2
3. Felipe Acosta/Duro Opacic (USU) def. Milos Dabic/Richard Solberg (UNLV) 6-1
Singles
1. No. 111 Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) def. Jordan Sauer (UNLV) 6-2, 6-2
2. Richard Solberg (UNLV) vs. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-7, 5-4, unfinished
3. Jose Carvajal (USU) def. Eric Samuelsson (UNLV) 7-5, 6-0
4. Felipe Acosta (USU) def. Milos Dabic (UNLV) 6-3, 6-1
5. Clayton Alenik (UNLV) vs. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) 2-6, 7-5, unfinished
6. Duro Opacic (USU) def. Tom Ciszewski (UNLV) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
Match Notes:
Utah State 11-4
UNLV 9-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,3,4,6)
-USU-
