DENVER, Colorado — Utah State men's tennis lost a neutral match to Idaho, 5-2, on Saturday at the Denver Tennis Park.  

The Vandals took the early lead by securing the doubles point with a 6-4 victory at the first position and a 7-6 (6) tiebreak win on court three. Junior Stijn Paardekooper and doubles partner freshman Nuno Pinheiro won their match with a 6-4 win over Denver at the No. 2 spot. 

In singles play, seniors Bodin Zarkovic and Roko Savin gave USU its two points scored of the match. Zarkovic took the second position point with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win against Idaho's Francisco Gay. Savin took his match on court four with a 6-7(6), 6-4, 10-7 victory. 

The Aggies went on to lose at the rest of the singles positions. David Cierny, Nuno Pinheiro, and Christian Holmes lost in straight-sets at the first, fifth, and sixth positions. 

At the No. 3 spot, Paardekooper had a 7-6(6) loss in the first set, and then took the second set with a 6-3 score but lost the final set as his opponent outscored him 10-7. 

Utah State continues play on the road at the Arizona State Invite beginning Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 26, in Tempe Arizona. The eight-team tournament will feature Arizona State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Nevada, UNLV, Loyola Marymound and Idaho in addition to the Aggies. 

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.  

Utah State 2, Idaho 5  
Denver, Colorado 
Denver Tennis Park 

 
RESULTS  

Doubles  
1. Bascon/Masala (UI) def. Cierny/Zarkovic (USU) 6-4 
2. Paardekooper/Pinheiro (USU) def. Gay/Kurata (UI) 6-4 
3. Asenov/Casino (UI) def. Ninteman/Savin (USU) 7-6(6) 

Singles  
1. Francisco Bascon (UI) def. David Cierny (USU) 6-3, 6-1 
2. Bodin Zarkovic (USU) def. Francisco Gay (UI) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4  
3. Matteo Masala (UI) def. Stijn Pardekooper (USU) 7-6(2), 3-6, 10-7 
4. Roko Savin (USU) def. Bruno Casino (UI) 6-7(6), 6-4, 10-7 
5. Taiyo Kurata (UI) def. Nuno Pinheiro (USU) 6-3, 6-3 
6. Mario Duron (UI) def. Christian Holmes (USU) 6-3, 6-2 

Match Notes  
Utah State: 3-5 (0-0 MW)  
Idaho: 3-2 (0-0 Big Sky) 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,1,6,3,2,4)  

 - USU -