Santa Barbara, California — Utah State men's tennis lost to No. 33 UC Santa Barbara in a 4-2 loss at the Arnhold Tennis Center on Thursday.
The Gauchos took the early lead by securing the doubles point despite the fight put on by the Aggies. At the No. 2 spot, junior Stijn Paardekooper and freshman Nuno Pinheiro took their set in a 6-3 win over UCSB's second position players. On court one, seniors David Cierny and Bodin Zarkovic lost in a tiebreak to the 43rd-ranked doubles pair in the country.
Utah State fell short during singles play with only two points scored for the Aggies.
At the third position, Paardekooper swiftly defeated his UCSB opponent in a straight-set 6-2, 6-4 win for his second straight win this week.
On court five, Pinheiro won his second straight match by defeating the Gauchos' Conrad Brown in straight sets, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Utah State men's tennis continues its road trip with a match against UC Irvine on Saturday, March 11, at 3 pm (MT) in Irvine, California.
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, #33 UC Santa Barbara 4
Arnhold Tennis Center
Santa Barbara, California
RESULTS
Doubles
1. #43 Phillip Jordan/Kai Brady (UCSB) def. David Cierny/Bodin Zarkovic (USU) 7-6 (5)
2. Nuno Pinheiro/Stijn Paardekooper (USU) def. Gianluca Brunkow/Lucca Liu (UCSB) 6-3
3. Luka Mrsic/Conrad Brown (UCSB) def. Javier Ruiz/Roko Savin (USU) 6-2
Singles
1. Jordan (UCSB) def. Cierny (USU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Zarkovic (USU) vs. Brunkow (UCSB) 6-7 (5), 5-2 unfinished
3. Paardekooper (USU) def. Liu (UCSB) 6-2, 6-4
4. Mrsic (UCSB) def. Savin (USU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Pinheiro (USU) def. Brown (UCSB) 7-6 (4), 6-2
6. Brady (UCSB) def. Ruiz (USU) 6-0, 6-1
Match Notes
Utah State: 5-8 (0-0 MW)
UC Santa Barbara: 12-1 (0-0 Big West)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,3,1,5,4)
- USU -
