Box Score LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men's tennis opened the 2020 campaign on a high note Saturday, defeating Grand Canyon, 4-3, in a home contest. 

The Aggies battled the Lopes Saturday, with the team decision coming down to the final singles match. Two singles matches went to three sets, while five sets on the day were decided in a tiebreak. 

"It was great to get a win. To be able to start out the year with a win is awesome," said USU head coach Aaron Paajanen. To go as deep into the match as we did and get a 4-3 win, and see the guys rush out on the court to start the year, it doesn't get much better than that."

Playing in the No. 6 spot, freshman Christian Holmes clinched the match for Utah State. After dropping the first set in a tiebreak, he bounced back to win the second in the same situation. With a 6-3 win in the third set, he secured the team victory. 

The Aggies won the doubles point to open the match, as all three matches were decided by a 6-4 score. Junior Felipe Acosta and freshman Javier Ruiz teamed up to defeat Julian Mueller and Maxim Kirsch, while the freshman duo of Holmes and Arvid Hjalte topped David Weber and Laurent Magne. 

In other singles action, Utah State secured wins on courts two and five, as Acosta and Hjalte both won in straight sets. Senior Sergiu Bucur played at the No. 1 spot, while freshman Roko Savin was in the No. 3 position, where both fell in two sets. Like Holmes, freshman Javier Ruiz also pushed his match at No. 4 to three sets, all of which went to tiebreaks, but Grand Canyon's Weber came away with that win. 

The Aggies return to action next weekend when they host Idaho on Saturday, Jan. 11. The match will be played at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club with first serve set for 11 a.m.

Fans can follow USU's men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at 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 @USU Athletics.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Lorenzo Fucile/Can Franke (GCU) def. Sergiu Bucur/Roko Savin (USU) 6-4
2. Felipe Acosta/Javier Ruiz (USU) def. Julian Mueller/Maxim Kirsch (GCU) 6-4
3. Arvid Hjalte/Christian Holmes (USU) def. David Weber/Laurent Magne (GCU) 6-4

Singles
1. Lorenzo Fucile (GCU) def. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Felipe Acosta (USU) def. Can Franke (GCU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Julian Mueller (GCU) def. Roko Savin (USU) 6-4, 6-4
4. David Weber (GCU) def. Javier Ruiz (USU) 7-6, 6-7, 7-6
5. Arvid Hjalte (USU) def. Maxim Kirsch (GCU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Christian Holmes (USU) def. Laurent Magne (GCU) 6-7, 7-6, 6-3

Match Notes
Grand Canyon 0-1
Utah State 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles - 1, 2, 3; Singles - 2, 1, 3, 5, 4, 6