Box Score USAFA, Colorado — Utah State men's tennis defeated No. 7-seeded UNLV, 4-1, on Friday to move on to the Mountain West Championship Semifinals. The Aggies will face No. 3-seeded New Mexico tomorrow.
 
"Great start today, winning doubles on all three courts to get the doubles point," head coach Aaron Paajanen said. "We then started strong and finished strong in singles. Guys are feeling confident and are looking forward to tomorrow's match."
 
The Aggies started off the match in superb form, sweeping all three matches of doubles play. At the top spot, All-MW Doubles Team members Bodin Zarkovic and David Cierny came back from a 4-2 deficit to register a 6-4 win. Junior Javier Ruiz and sophomore Jack Ninteman combined for a 6-3 win at the second spot. Senior Felipe Acosta and freshman Sergi Mico Fenollar then completed USU's doubles dominance with a 6-4 win at the third position.
 
Entering singles play with a 1-0 lead, the Aggies and Rebels traded wins at the top two spots in the lineup. Cierny maintained USU's one-point lead with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at the second position. Junior Roko Savin recorded the final three points of the match to score a 6-2, 7-5 win at the fifth position to put the Aggies one point away from advancing. Acosta, Mico Fenollar and Ruiz then raced to post the final point of USU's victory, with Mico Fenollar finishing first in a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 win at the third position to clinch the match for Utah State.
 
Utah State will face the Lobos tomorrow at 11 a.m. (MT). New Mexico advanced after sweeping Boise State, 4-0, in the opening round. The Aggies have gone 2-0 versus New Mexico this season, defeating the Lobos, 4-1, as part of the ASU Invite in non-conference play and coming back from a 3-0 deficit to record a 4-3 win in Albuquerque to close out the regular season.
 
All matches at the MW Championships are broadcasted via the Mountain West. Live stats are also available.
 
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, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
 
RESULTS
Utah State 4, UNLV 1
USAFA, Colorado
 
Doubles
1. Bodin Zarkovic/David Cierny (USU) def. Milos Dabic/Zac Brodney (UNLV) 6-4
2. Jack Ninteman/Javier Ruiz (USU) def. Christopher Bulus/Zach Garner (UNLV) 6-3
3. Felipe Acosta/Sergi Mico Fenollar (USU) def. Jordan Sauer/Jackson Atherton (UNLV) 6-4
 
Singles
1. No. 85 Bulus (UNLV) def. Zarkovic (USU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Cierny (USU) def. Sauer (UNLV) 6-2, 6-3
3. Mico Fenollar (USU) def. Dabic (UNLV) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
4. Acosta (USU) vs. Brodney (UNLV) 6-4, 6-6, unfinished
5. Roko Savin (USU) def. Garner (UNLV) 6-2, 7-5
6. Ruiz (USU) vs. Anton Ornberg (UNLV) 2-6, 6-3, 6-5, unfinished
 
Match Notes
Utah State 11-11, 4-2 MW
UNLV: 11-14, 1-5 MW
 
 - USU -