LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men's tennis' (15-8, 3-1 MW) six-match home Mountain West winning streak and 13-match conference winning streak came to an end as they lost to New Mexico (9-6, 4-0 MW) with a 4-1 final on Sunday afternoon at the Outdoor Tennis Courts. The last time the Aggies lost a conference game was almost two years ago to the day, April 9, 2017, at home against New Mexico.
In doubles play, juniors Sergiu Bucur and Duro Opacic opened with a 6-4 victory at the third position, but the Lobos would win on the remaining two courts to capture the doubles point.
After New Mexico made it a 2-0 contest, sophomore Jose Carvajal won at the No. 2 spot in straight-sets, 6-1, 6-3, making it a 2-1 game. The Aggies were then down 3-1 as sophomore Felipe Acosta fell at the No. 3 spot, and Bucur fell in straight-sets at the No. 4 spot, earning the Lobos the win. Both freshman Rithvik Bollipalli and Opacic won their first sets at the No. 5 and 6 spots, respectively, but fell in their second set, and there third sets went unfinished.
The Aggies will hit the road next week for a pair of matches at Fresno State on Friday, April 12, at 6 p.m. (MT), and at Nevada on Sunday, April 14, at 3 p.m. (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
New Mexico 4, Utah State 1
Doubles
1. Ricky Hernandez Tong/Stepan Holis (NM) def. Rithvik Bollipalli/Jose Carvajal (USU) 7-6 (7-0)
2. Facundo Bermejo/Dominic West (NM) def. Felipe Acosta/Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) 6-3
3. Sergiu Bucur/Duro Opacic (USU) def. Tim Buttner/Nicolas Prieto (NM) 6-4
Singles
1. Ricky Hernandez Tong (NM) def. Isaac Arevalo Gómez (USU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Jose Carvajal (USU) def. Dominic West (NM) 6-1, 6-3
3. Stepan Holis (NM) def. Felipe Acosta (USU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Tim Buttner (NM) def. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) vs. Facundo Bermejo (NM) 6-3, 1-6, 2-4, unfinished
6. Duro Opacic (USU) vs. Nicolas Prieto (NM) 6-1, 1-6, 4-1, unfinished
Match Notes:
New Mexico 9-6, 4-0 MW
Utah State 15-8, 3-1 MW
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,2,3,4)
-USU-
