PHOENIX, Arizona – The University of Idaho men's tennis fell to Idaho State, 4-0, in the Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinals Saturday morning at the Phoenix Tennis Center. 

To start the match, the Bengals won two of three doubles matches, taking the doubles point and a 1-0 advantage.

Matteo Masala and Alex Asenov earned the lone doubles win, 6-3, over Wikus Robbertse and Hiroki Fujita. 

In singles play the Vandals dropped three matches, with the rest unfinished. 

Idaho State earned the second point of the match as Asenov fell to Robbertse, 6-1, 6-2, in No. 6 singles. 

Francisco Bascon fell 6-0, 6-4, in the No. 1 spot to Patrik Trhac, giving the Bengals three points. 

In the No. 4 spot, Alejandro Salvador Civera fell to Hiroki Fujita 6-3, 6-2, giving Idaho the fourth and final point of the match. 

At the time the match was called, Bruno Casino was ahead 6-4, 5-4, to Jamie Castillo-Lopez in the No. 3 spot. 

The Vandals finished a shortened season 7-6 overall and 3-1 in conference play, earning their first trip to the Big Sky Tournament since 2018. 

"All I can say is that I'm proud of this team on how they handled all of the adversity this year," said Head Coach Daniel Hangstefer. "Everything has been asked of them, and they handled the year with grace and poise. No team has been through what this team has. We are a young team and return every player next year, and we will also be adding some new talent. This program has a bright future and I cannot wait."

Tennis Match Results

Idaho State University 4, Idaho 0 

Singles Competition 

1. Patrik Trhac (ISUMEN) def. Francisco Bascon (UIMEN) 6-0, 6-4 

2. Matteo Masala (UIMEN) vs. Aleksander Petrovic (ISUMEN) 6-7, 0-1 

3. Bruno Casino (UIMEN) vs. Jaime Castillo-Lopez (ISUMEN) 6-4, 5-4 

4. Hiroki Fujita (ISUMEN) def. Alejandro Salvador (UIMEN) 6-3, 6-2 

5. Vivek Ramesh (UIMEN) vs. Gary Rendek (ISUMEN) 5-7, 3-4 

6. Wikus Robbertse (ISUMEN) def. Alex Asenov (UIMEN) 6-1, 6-2 

Doubles Competition

1. Aleksander Petrovic and Patrik Trhac (ISUMEN) def. Francisco Bascon and Bruno Casino (UIMEN) 7-5 

2. Matteo Masala and Alex Asenov (UIMEN) def. Wikus Robbertse and Hiroki Fujita (ISUMEN) 6-3 

3. Jaime Castillo-Lopez and Gary Rendek (ISUMEN) def. Adam Taylor and Alejandro Salvador (UIMEN) 6-3 

Match Notes 

Order of finish: Singles -- 1 4 6 ; Doubles -- 3 2 1 

Start Time: 8:00 a.m