BOISE, Idaho ? The University of Idaho men's tennis concluded the weekend on a positive note after a tough loss to rival No. 29 Boise State on Saturday.
The Vandals dismissed Weber State on Sunday 4-3 after Boise State defeated Idaho 5-2 one day earlier.
“It was good to get the win against Weber State after tough matches against teams that are strong nationally,” Idaho director of tennis Jeff Beaman said. “This weekend ended being similar to our trip to New Mexico State where we loss to hard matches before rebounding.”
Idaho got off to a good start taking their first doubles point of the weekend against the Wildcats. All three doubles matches were tightly contested with Robert Chalkley/Alexandru Joitoiu and Timothy Huynh/Hugh McDonald picking up wins but Artem Kuznetsov/Stanislav Glukhov losing in a tight match 9-8.
“The doubles matches were all very close and we showed some good reliance to come away with the point,” Beaman said. “We had a lot of close doubles matches all weekend but today we were able to close them out.”
Kuznetsov had success in singles with a three set victory over Sascha Kiehne in the No. 1 spot. Chalkley and Alan Shin notched victories in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots to clinch success for Idaho.
“Even with the victory this weekend showed we need to start playing at that next level,” Beaman said. “We need still to improve as team in order to compete with nationally ranked competition.”
Idaho struggled at times with Boise State getting swept in doubles despite Joitoiu/Chalkley taking Bronco pair Kean Feeder/James Meredith to a tiebreaker before losing 9-8 (8-3).
In singles, Glukhov took out Meredith in a hard fought three set contest and Alan Shin defeated Matt Solomon 6-4, 6-2. Idaho was unable to take any other matches and were condemned to their fifth loss of the season.
“Boise State is a very good nationally ranked team,” Beaman said. “We are making improvements but still not there yet.”
Idaho will now prepare for Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash. on March 3.
University of Idaho 4, Weber State University 3
Singles competition
1. Artem Kuznetsov (IDAHO) def. Sascha Kiehne (WEBER) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
2. Simon Unger (WEBER) def. Stanislav Glukhov (IDAHO) 7-5, 6-3
3. Henning Hipp (WEBER) def. Alexandru Joitoiu (IDAHO) 6-0, 7-5
4. Robert Chalkley (IDAHO) def. Chris Williams (WEBER) 6-0, 6-3
5. Alan Shin (IDAHO) def. Spencer Marchant (WEBER) 6-3, 7-5
6. Travis Covington (WEBER) def. Hugh McDonald (IDAHO) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Sascha Kiehne/Simon Unger (WEBER) def. Artem Kuznetsov/Stanislav
Glukhov (IDAHO) 9-8
2. Robert Chalkley/Alexandru Joitoiu (IDAHO) def. Henning Hipp/Travis
Covington (WEBER) 9-8
3. Timothy Huynh/Hugh McDonald (IDAHO) def. Spencer Marchant/Chris
Williams (WEBER) 8-6
Match Notes:
Weber State University 5-6
University of Idaho 8-5
T-3:40
#27 Boise State University 5, University of Idaho 2
Singles competition
1. #57 Kean Feeder (BSU) def. Artem Kuznetsov (IDAHO) 6-1, 6-0
2. Stanislav Glukhov (IDAHO) def. James Meredith (BSU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Cristian Hodel (BSU) def. Alexandru Joitoiu (IDAHO) 6-2, 6-4
4. Stanley Sarapanich (BSU) def. Robert Chalkley (IDAHO) 6-2, 6-1
5. Alan Shin (IDAHO) def. Matt Solomon (BSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Freddy Walsh (BSU) def. Hugh McDonald (IDAHO) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Kean Feeder/James Meredith (BSU) def. Alexandru Joitoiu/Robert
Chalkley (IDAHO) 9-8 (8-3)
2. Stanislav Glukhov/Artem Kuznetsov (IDAHO) def. Stanley
Sarapanich/Erik Sheldon (BSU) 8-2
3. Cristian Hodel/Freddy Walsh (BSU) def. Hugh McDonald/Alan Shin
(IDAHO) 8-2
Match Notes:
University of Idaho 7-5
Boise State University 7-4; National ranking #27
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,4,3,5,6,2)
