TEMPE, Arizona— The Idaho men's tennis season came to unexpended close this season but not before earning national recognition. The teams' doubles duo of Esteban Santibanez and Francisco Bascon finish the season ranked in ITA NCAA Division I Men's Doubles rankings.
 
Bascon and Santibanez debuted at No. 72 in the rankings after compiling a 6-1 record on the season. In the next two matches following the initial ranking, the duo went 1-1 against Weber State and Idaho State prior to the conclusion of the season. Bascon and Santibanez finished 7-2 on the season and ranked No. 72 in the ITA NCAA Division I Men's Doubles rankings.

Santibanez and Bascon are ranked just ahead of Connor Johnston and Ondrej Styler from Michigan and are the only Big Sky doubles team ranked in the rankings.

On the season the Vandals finished 6-4 overall and were 2-0 in conference plays with wins over Weber State and Idaho State. Both conference wins were thrilling come-from-behind wins as the squad rallied from down 3-0 to take the match 4-3. In the final match of the season the Vandals took down Idaho State 4-3, after coming back from down 3-2.

"It was great to see how the team continued to step up and improve in doubles," sadi head Coach Daniel Hangstefer. "I thought we were really beginning to figure it out as we went into conference season. Our goal is to carry this confidence and growth into next year."

Althaf Dhaifullah, Guilherme Scarpelli, and Vivek Ramesh each led the Vandals in singles wins this season with five each. Dhaifullah finished 5-5, playing, mainly in the No. 2 spot. Scarpelli went 5-3 this season playing mostly in the No. 5 spot, posting a 4-0 record. Ramesh finished 5-4 and played mostly in the No. 6 spot for the Vandals this season.

In doubles play, aside from Santibanez and Bascon, the duo of Dhaifullah and Casino posted a solid 4-2 record for the Vandals this season.

"We had a great start ot our season," said Hangstefer. "We were able to accomplish quite a lot in a short amount of time. I was proud of the way the guys competed. I want to thank our seniors for their time at Idaho. I am looking forward to future success with all our returners and new incoming student athletes next year."




ITA NCAA Division I Men's Doubles Rankings No. 70-80
 
70. Devincentis/Stice              Auburn
71. Chopra/Martin                   Georgia Tech
72. Santibanez/Bascon         Idaho
73. Johnston/Styler                 Michigan
74. Ito/Woldeab                       Texas
75.Colas/Ramskogler             Mississippi State
76. Chakravarthi/Vaise           SMU
77. Soderlund/Lord                 Virgina
78. Hulme/Reekie                   Omaha
79. Furman/Keist                    Duke
80. Pelletier/Brown