Box Score USAFA, Colorado — Utah State men's tennis lost to No. 3-seeded New Mexico, 4-3, on Saturday in the Mountain West Championship Semifinals. The Aggies end the season with an 11-12 overall record.
 
For the second straight match, the Aggies secured the doubles point to open the match. In a match featuring back-and-forth runs at the first position, juniors David Cierny and Bodin Zarkovic posted a 6-4 victory. Junior Javier Ruiz and sophomore Jack Ninteman then posted a 6-4 win of their own at the No. 2s to give USU the 1-0 lead heading to singles play.
 
After a Lobo victory at the third spot evened the match at one apiece, Cierny restored USU's lead with a 6-2, 6-1 victory at the second position. Cierny closed the season winning six of his final seven singles matches. Junior Roko Savin closed a straight-sets victory at the fifth position, 6-3, 6-2, to put USU on the brink of the championship match before Lobo wins at the third, first and fourth positions wrestled the championship berth away from the Aggies.
 
USU had been 2-0 versus the Lobos on the year before entering Saturday's semifinal match. The Aggies defeated New Mexico, 4-1, as part of the ASU Invite during non-conference play. USU also bested the Lobos in the final match of the regular season, coming back from a 3-0 deficit for a 4-3 victory on the road.

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 3, New Mexico 4
USAFA, Colorado
 
Doubles
1. Bodin Zarkovic/David Cierny (USU) def. Arda Azkara/Nicolas Prieto (NM) 6-4
2. Jack Ninteman/Javier Ruiz (USU) def. Alex Maggs/Jan Pucalka (NM) 6-4
3. Rafa Abdulsalam/Georgio Samaha (NM) def. Felipe Acosta/Sergi Mico Fenollar (USU) 6-1
 
Singles
1. Azkara (NM) def. Zarkovic (USU) 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5)
2. Cierny (USU) def. Abdulsalam (NM) 6-2, 6-1
3. Aram Noroozian (NM) def. Mico Fenollar (USU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Pucalka (NM) def. Acosta (USU) 6-2, 0-6, 7-5
5. Roko Savin (USU) def. Maggs (NM) 6-3, 6-2
6. Samaha (NM) def. Ruiz (USU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
 
Match Notes
Utah State 11-12, 4-2 MW
New Mexico: 11-12, 3-3 MW
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2,1) – Singles (3,2,5,6,1,4)
 
 - USU -