FRESNO, Calif. – No. 2-seeded Utah State men's tennis (19-8, 6-1 MW) advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West Championships after a 4-0 victory over No. 7-seeded Boise State (11-10, 1-6) in the opening round on Thursday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.

"We came out a little tight at the first and third spot in doubles, but we settled down and carried the momentum into singles and it was a good effort," said head coach James Wilson. "We try to take it one step and one match at a time. We try to not look too far ahead, try and play hard on every point, play as a team and play for each other."

Utah State earned the doubles point as the all-Mountain West doubles tandem of freshman Rithvik Bollipalli and sophomore Jose Carvajal recorded a 6-2 win at the top spot, while junior Sergiu Bucur and Duro Opacic clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory at the third position. Sophomore Felipe Acosta and freshman Isaac Arevalo Gómez's were up 5-3 at the No. 2 sport, but the match ended unfinished after the doubles point was decided.

Bucur started singles play off with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 win at the No. 3 spot against senior Jack Heslin. Opacic followed suit with a straight-set win of his own at the No. 6 spot, earning himself a 6-2, 7-5 score against freshman Simon Stenlund. With the score 3-0 Aggies, it came down to a pair of all-MW singles recipients in Arevalo Gómez and sophomore Luka Soskic at the No. 1 spot. Arevalo Gómez, who was also named the conference's freshman of the year, clinched his second match of the season with a 6-3, 6-1 win.

Utah State will now face the winner of the 3/6 match between Fresno State (15-10, 5-2 MW) and Nevada (11-10, 2-5 MW). The semifinal will take place on Friday, April 26, at 4 p.m. (MT). The Aggies were victorious in the meetings between the two programs this season after a 4-1 win over the Bulldogs and a 4-0 win over the Wolf Pack.

Utah State defeated No. 3-seeded Fresno State in the teams' last meeting, 4-1. The Aggies won the doubles point after victories from Carvajal and Bollipalli at No. 1 doubles, and Acosta and Arevalo Gómez at the No. 2 spot. Opacic, Bucur and Bollipalli each recorded singles victories to win the match. The Bulldogs' Zdenek Derkas and Angus Bradshaw, both juniors, earned all-MW singles honors.

Utah State recorded a 4-0 sweep against sixth-seeded Nevada during the season. The duo of Opacic and Bucur recorded a win at the third spot, while Acosta and Arevalo Gómez clinched the doubles point at the second position, Opacic, Carvajal and Acosta recorded singles victories to secure the win for the Aggies. Junior Julian Evard of the Wolf Pack earned all-conference honors in singles and doubles, as teamed with junior Kostya Nesterenko to earn all-MW doubles accolades.

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 @USU Athletics.

RESULTS
Utah State 4, Boise State 0
Doubles
1. Rithvik Bollipalli/Jose Carvajal (USU) def. Max Blancaneaux/Jack Heslin (BSU) 6-2 
2. Felipe Acosta/Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) vs. Simon Arca Costas/Luka Soskic (BSU) 5-3, unfinished 
3. Sergiu Bucur/Duro Opacic (USU) def. Wyatt Demulling/Simon Stenlund (BSU) 6-4

Singles
1. Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) def. Luka Soskic (BSU) 6-3, 6-1 
2. Jose Carvajal (USU) vs. Simon Arca Costas (BSU) 1-6, 6-3, 1-0, unfinished 
3. Sergiu Bucur (USU) def. Jack Heslin (BSU) 6-1, 6-0 
4. Felipe Acosta (USU) vs. Max Blancaneaux (BSU) 6-3, 5-2, unfinished 
5. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) vs. Wyatt Demulling (BSU) 6-2, 5-5, unfinished 
6. Duro Opacic (USU) def. Simon Stenlund (BSU) 6-2, 7-5

Match Notes:
Boise State 11-10, 1-6 MW 
Utah State 19-8, 6-1 MW 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,6,1) 
2019 Mountain West Men's Tennis Championship Quarterfinal #3: #2 seed Utah State vs. #7 seed Boise State T-2:11 A-66

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