LOGAN, Utah — Utah State men’s tennis opened Mountain West play on Friday, earning a 4-2 victory over UNLV at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club. The win snaps a three-match skid for the Aggies and marks USU’s seventh consecutive season opening conference play with a victory.
“This means a lot for the team,” freshman Sergi Micó Fenollar said. “We are really happy right now. We’ve had some tough losses the last few games so today was a good bounceback, especially at this point of the season. We’re really happy.”
The Aggies and Rebels split the first and second positions to open doubles play with senior Felipe Acosta and junior Javier Ruiz notching a 6-4 victory at the No. 2 spot for USU. UNLV, however, secured the early advantage by clinching the doubles point at court three.
“We’ve been playing the doubles point and it’s been a little bit tough for us,” Micó Fenollar said. “Today was close but I think we are taking it the right way. We are not thinking of the doubles when we go into the singles. We just focus and I think it’s making us mentally tougher. Hopefully, we’re going to start winning more doubles now. We’ve got a good lineup, so we’re looking forward to it.”
In singles play, the top of the Aggie lineup led the charge as Utah State won the opening set at each of the top four positions. Junior David Cierny was the first to close out his match, leveling the score at one apiece with a 6-0, 6-3 victory at the second spot. Junior Bodin Zarkovic soon followed suit by defeating UNLV’s Christopher Bulus, ranked 84th in the nation in the latest ITA rankings, 6-2, 6-2. Acosta then concluded his strong day with a 6-2, 6-3 win at the fourth position to put USU at the brink of victory.
Following a Rebel win at the No. 6-spot, the match came down to freshman Sergi Micó Fenollar and junior Roko Savin at the third and fifth positions, respectively. With both Aggies up a break in deciding third sets, Micó Fenollar won the race to the clinching point with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory to secure the win for Utah State.
“I think this is the first time I’ve clinched,” Micó Fenollar said. “Really happy, I just really like the environment when my teammates are cheering for me. The feeling is amazing. I was just focused on the match but once I won and the last point was over, I realized how everyone was so happy. We are really happy as a team.”
The Aggies have a quick turnaround before continuing conference play against Nevada on Sunday, April 3.
“I think this is going to help us bring that momentum,” Micó Fenollar said. “Conference started today and we’re looking forward to doing it again on Sunday. We’re going to start with doubles and go for that doubles point. Then we’re going to have six guys show up in singles and we’re looking forward to having a good performance.”
Sunday’s match versus the Wolf Pack is scheduled for 11 a.m. (MT), at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club. Due to temperature/weather concerns, the match may be rescheduled for later in the day.
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 2
Sports Academy & Racquet Club
Logan, Utah
Doubles
1. Jordan Sauer/Jackson Atherton (UNLV) def. David Cierny/Bodin Zarkovic (USU) 6-3
2. Felipe Acosta/Javier Ruiz (USU) def. Zac Brodney/Milos Dabic (UNLV) 6-4
3. Christopher Bulus/Zach Garner (UNLV) def. Sergi Micó Fenollar/Jack Ninteman (USU) 6-4
Singles
1. Zarkovic (USU) def. No. 84 Christopher Bulus (UNLV) 6-2, 6-2
2. Cierny (USU) def. Sauer (UNLV) 6-0, 6-3
3. Micó Fenollar (USU) def. Brodney (UNLV) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
4. Acosta (USU) def. Dabic (UNLV) 6-2, 6-3
5. Roko Savin (USU) vs. Garner (UNLV) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 5-2, unfinished
6. Anton Ornberg (UNLV) def. Ruiz (USU) 6-3, 7-6 (9-7)
Match Notes
Utah State: 7-9 (1-0 MW)
UNLV: 11-10 (0-1 MW)
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (2, 1, 4, 6, 3)
– USU –
“This means a lot for the team,” freshman Sergi Micó Fenollar said. “We are really happy right now. We’ve had some tough losses the last few games so today was a good bounceback, especially at this point of the season. We’re really happy.”
The Aggies and Rebels split the first and second positions to open doubles play with senior Felipe Acosta and junior Javier Ruiz notching a 6-4 victory at the No. 2 spot for USU. UNLV, however, secured the early advantage by clinching the doubles point at court three.
“We’ve been playing the doubles point and it’s been a little bit tough for us,” Micó Fenollar said. “Today was close but I think we are taking it the right way. We are not thinking of the doubles when we go into the singles. We just focus and I think it’s making us mentally tougher. Hopefully, we’re going to start winning more doubles now. We’ve got a good lineup, so we’re looking forward to it.”
In singles play, the top of the Aggie lineup led the charge as Utah State won the opening set at each of the top four positions. Junior David Cierny was the first to close out his match, leveling the score at one apiece with a 6-0, 6-3 victory at the second spot. Junior Bodin Zarkovic soon followed suit by defeating UNLV’s Christopher Bulus, ranked 84th in the nation in the latest ITA rankings, 6-2, 6-2. Acosta then concluded his strong day with a 6-2, 6-3 win at the fourth position to put USU at the brink of victory.
Following a Rebel win at the No. 6-spot, the match came down to freshman Sergi Micó Fenollar and junior Roko Savin at the third and fifth positions, respectively. With both Aggies up a break in deciding third sets, Micó Fenollar won the race to the clinching point with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory to secure the win for Utah State.
“I think this is the first time I’ve clinched,” Micó Fenollar said. “Really happy, I just really like the environment when my teammates are cheering for me. The feeling is amazing. I was just focused on the match but once I won and the last point was over, I realized how everyone was so happy. We are really happy as a team.”
The Aggies have a quick turnaround before continuing conference play against Nevada on Sunday, April 3.
“I think this is going to help us bring that momentum,” Micó Fenollar said. “Conference started today and we’re looking forward to doing it again on Sunday. We’re going to start with doubles and go for that doubles point. Then we’re going to have six guys show up in singles and we’re looking forward to having a good performance.”
Sunday’s match versus the Wolf Pack is scheduled for 11 a.m. (MT), at the Sports Academy & Racquet Club. Due to temperature/weather concerns, the match may be rescheduled for later in the day.
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 2
Sports Academy & Racquet Club
Logan, Utah
Doubles
1. Jordan Sauer/Jackson Atherton (UNLV) def. David Cierny/Bodin Zarkovic (USU) 6-3
2. Felipe Acosta/Javier Ruiz (USU) def. Zac Brodney/Milos Dabic (UNLV) 6-4
3. Christopher Bulus/Zach Garner (UNLV) def. Sergi Micó Fenollar/Jack Ninteman (USU) 6-4
Singles
1. Zarkovic (USU) def. No. 84 Christopher Bulus (UNLV) 6-2, 6-2
2. Cierny (USU) def. Sauer (UNLV) 6-0, 6-3
3. Micó Fenollar (USU) def. Brodney (UNLV) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
4. Acosta (USU) def. Dabic (UNLV) 6-2, 6-3
5. Roko Savin (USU) vs. Garner (UNLV) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 5-2, unfinished
6. Anton Ornberg (UNLV) def. Ruiz (USU) 6-3, 7-6 (9-7)
Match Notes
Utah State: 7-9 (1-0 MW)
UNLV: 11-10 (0-1 MW)
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (2, 1, 4, 6, 3)
– USU –