HOUSTON, Texas – Utah State men's tennis (12-6, 1-0 MW) competed in a back-and-forth contest against No. 45 Dartmouth (10-5, 0-0 Ivy League), but fell short, losing 4-3 on Day 2 of the 61st Ralph O'Connor Rice Invitational.
Utah State lost the doubles point as they fell 6-4 on both the second and third position.
In singles play, sophomore Felipe Acosta tied up the score at 1-1 as he recorded a 6-3, 6-2 win at the No. 4 spot. The Aggies then lost on Court 3, before junior Duro Opacic tied things up once again when he notched a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win at the No. 6 spot to make it a 2-2 contest. Sophomore Jose Carvajal made the score 3-2 Aggies as he edged out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 win at the No. 2 spot. After the Big Green won at the No. 5 spot, it came down to the top spot as freshman Isaac Arevalo Gómez faced No. 34 Charlie Broom. Arevalo won the second set in a tiebreak, 7-6, to force a third and deciding set. However, Broom won the deciding set, 6-1, to clinch the match.
Utah State will end their stay at the Rice Invitational with a match against Rice tomorrow at 4 p.m. (MT).
Fans can follow USU's women's tennis team on Twitter @USUWomensTennis, on Facebook at UtahStateWomensTennis or on Instagram @USUWomensTennis. 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
No. 45 Dartmouth 4, Utah State 3
Doubles
1. #20 Broom, Charlie/Horneffer, David (DART) vs. Isaac Arevalo Gómez/Jose Carvajal (USU) 5-5, unfinished
2. Ross, Casey/Conklin, Peter (DART) def. Rithvik Bollipalli/Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-4
3. Speicher, John/Martin, Dan (DART) def. Duro Opacic/Felipe Acosta (USU) 6-4
Singles
1. #34 Broom, Charlie (DART) def. Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) 6-3, 6-7, 6-1
2. Jose Carvajal (USU) def. Horneffer, David (DART) 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
3. Martin, Dan (DART) def. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Felipe Acosta (USU) def. Conklin, Peter (DART) 6-3, 6-2
5. Chari, Sid (DART) def. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Duro Opacic (USU) def. Speicher, John (DART) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Match Notes:
Utah State 12-6
Dartmouth 10-5; National ranking #45
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,3,6,2,5,1)
-USU-
