TEMPE, Arizona — Utah State went 1-2 this weekend at the Arizona State Invite, defeating Idaho, 4-2, on the final day. 
 
The Aggies entered the consolation bracket following a day one loss to Loyola Marymount, 4-2. At the No. 1 spot in doubles play, seniors David Cierny and Bodin Zarkovic started the day strong when they took their match with a 6-3 score. Unfortunately, the Aggies lost at the second and third position with a pair of 6-4 scores. 

Cierny and freshman Nuno Pinheiro gave USU the only points of the day in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win at the first position and a 6-7, 6-0, 7-5 win on court five, respectively. Senior Javier Ruiz was ahead 4-6, 6-3, 5-4 when his match was suspended due to LMU scoring their fourth point of the match. 
 
On Saturday, Utah State faced Mountain West foe No. 55-ranked New Mexico in a nonconference showdown. 

Utah State started the day off strong by taking the doubles point thanks to junior Stijn Paardekooper and his partner Pinheiro on court two, and junior Jack Ninteman and senior Javier Ruiz at the third spot.  

After a 1-0 start to the match, Zarkovic scored the lone singles point for the Aggies in a 6-1, 6-3 win at the second position. At the fourth spot, senior Roko Savin's match was suspended before the third set began. Pinheiro fought again on court five, but came up short in the third set with a 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 2-6 score. 

Utah State earned its first win of the tournament Sunday by defeating Idaho, 4-2. 

The Aggies took the doubles point with wins at the first and second positions. Partners Cierny and Zarkovic won at the top spot while Paardekooper and Pinheiro won on court two. 

In singles play, USU took points via straight-set victories at the second, fourth and fifth positions. Zarkovic won on court two, posting a 6-4, 6-1 win, and Savin won on court four with a 7-5, 6-4 win. Pinheiro then won on court five with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat over his opponent to clinch the match. 

Utah State heads to California to take on UC Riverside on Wednesday, March 8, at 4 p.m. (MT), UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, March 9, at 2 p.m. (MT), and UC Irvine on Saturday, March 11, 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 USUMensTennis.  Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics. 
 
DAY 1 RESULTS 

Loyola Marymount 4, Utah State 2 
Doubles 
1. David Cierny/Bodin Zarkovic (USU) won 6-3 
2. Stijn Paardekooper/Nuno Pinheiro (USU) lost 6-4 
3. Jack Ninteman/Javier Ruiz (USU) lost 6-4 
 
Singles 
1. Cierny (USU) won 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 
2. Zarkovic (USU) lost 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 
3. Paardekooper (USU) lost 7-6 (4), 6-1 
4. Savin (USU) lost 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 
5. Pinheiro (USU) won 6-7, 6-0, 7-5 
6. Ruiz (USU) unfinished 4-6, 6-3, 5-4 
 
Match Notes 
Utah State: 3-6, 0-0 MW 
Loyola Marymount: 4-3, 0-0 WCC 

DAY 2 RESULTS 

#55 New Mexico 4, Utah State 2 
Doubles 
1. Azkara, Arda/Maggs, Alex (NM) def. Cierny, David/Zarkovic, Bodin (USU) 6-1 
2. Paardekooper, Stijn/Pinheiro, Nuno (USU) def. Matsushita, Ryoma/Noroozian, Aram (NM) 6-4 
3. Ninteman, Jack/Ruiz, Javier (USU) def. Abdulsalam, Rafael/Samaha, Georgio (NM) 6-3 
 
Singles 
1. Azkara (NM) def. Cierny (USU) 6-2, 6-4 
2. Zarkovic (USU) def. Sysoev (NM) 6-1, 6-3 
3. Noroozian (NM) def. Paardekooper (USU) 6-1, 6-4 
4. Savin (USU) vs. Matsushita (NM) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), unfinished 
5. Samaha (NM) def. Pinheiro (USU) 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 
6. Maggs (NM) def. Ruiz (USU) 6-1, 6-2 
 
Match Notes 
Utah State: 3-7, 0-0 MW 
New Mexico: 5-2, 0-0 MW 

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2,1,3,5) 

DAY 3 RESULTS 

Utah State 4, Idaho 2 
Doubles 
1. David Cierny/Bodin Zarkovic (USU) won 6-3 
2. Stijn Paardekooper/Nuno Pinheiro (USU) won 6-4 
3. Jack Ninteman/Javier Ruiz (USU) lost 6-4 
 
Singles 
1. Cierny (USU) lost 7-6 (5), 5-7, 1-6 
2. Zarkovic (USU) won 6-4, 6-1 
3. Paardekooper (USU) lost 6-3, 5-7, 4-6 
4. Savin (USU) won 7-5, 6-4 
5. Pinheiro (USU) won 6-3, 7-5 
6. Ruiz (USU) lost 4-6, 4-6 
 
Match Notes 
Utah State: 4-7, 0-0 MW 
Idaho: 4-5, 0-0 Big Sky 
 
- USU -