LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's tennis (12-4, 1-0 MW) extended their season-high winning streak to five matches as they recorded a 4-2 win against UTSA (10-5) on Sunday afternoon at the Outdoor Tennis Courts.
"It was a real battle. UTSA really gave us everything they had and they fought really hard," said head coach James Wilson. "We barely won the doubles point and it came down to a tiebreaker at the second spot. All six singles matches were a battle. We were really fortunate to get the win."
In doubles play, junior Duro Opacic and sophomore Felipe Acosta cruised to a 6-1 win at the third spot, while junior Sergiu Bucur and freshman Rithvik Bollipalli clinched the doubles point with a stellar 7-6 (3) win on court two.
In singles, Opacic came back to win his match as he fell in the first set, 3-6, but won his final two sets 6-3, 7-5. Bollipalli made it a 3-1 contest as he edged out a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 win at the No. 5 spot. Acosta had to make a comeback at the No. 4 spot as he fell in his first set, 4-6, and won with a pair of 6-3 victories to clinch the match.
"I'm pretty happy and it was a tough match," said Acosta. "When we clinched the doubles point, we had the momentum. Sergiu (Bucur) and Rithvik (Bollipalli) won the doubles point and it was very important to get that first point. Starting in singles, we lost every first set, but the guys were tough and kept fighting. I tried to find a way to play a little more aggressive in the second set and I carried the momentum into the third set and clinched the match."
USU will head to Houston, Texas, for the Rice Invitational where they will face Texas Tech on Friday, March 22, at 4 p.m. (MT), Dartmouth on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m. (MT) and host-Rice on Sunday, March 24, at 4 p.m. (MT).
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, UTSA 2
Doubles
1. Juri Reckow/Joao Ceolin (UTSAM) def. Isaac Arevalo Gómez/Jose Carvajal (USU) 7-6 (5)
2. Sergiu Bucur/Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) def. Kai Breitbach/Alan Sanson (UTSAM) 7-6 (3)
3. Duro Opacic/Felipe Acosta (USU) def. Patrick Poestinger/Javier Rodriguez (UTSAM) 6-1
Singles
1. Kai Breitbach (UTSAM) def. #111 Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) 7-5, 7-5
2. Javier Rodriguez (UTSAM) def. Jose Carvajal (USU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
3. Sergiu Bucur (USU) vs. Joao Ceolin (UTSAM) 7-6 (7-4), 6-6, unfinished
4. Felipe Acosta (USU) def. Juri Reckow (UTSAM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) def. Alan Sanson (UTSAM) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
6. Duro Opacic (USU) def. Javier Gonzalez (UTSAM) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Match Notes:
UTSA Men's Tennis 10-5
Utah State 12-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,6,5,1,4)
-USU-
