DENVER – The Idaho men's tennis team (3-3) went 1-1 this weekend. The Vandals earned an impressive 5-2 victory over Utah State (3-5) on Saturday before falling to the University of Denver (5-4), 6-1 on Sunday. 

Idaho vs. Utah State
The Vandals opened the weekend with a dominant 5-2 win over the Aggies, taking the doubles point and four individual wins. 

Idaho took care of business in doubles on courts one and three to open the match. Francisco Bascon and Matteo Masala teamed up to earn a 6-4 win at the No. 1 slot before duo Alex Asneov and Bruno Casino clinched the point with a tight 7-6 decision at No. 3. 

The Vandals took four of the six possible points in singles to secure the 5-2 victory. 

Taiyo Kurata, Mario Duron and Bascon each earned their victories in straight sets, while Masala posted a three set victory. 

Idaho 5, Utah State 2

Doubles competition
1. Bascon/Masala (UI) def. Cierny/Zarkovic (USU): 6‐4
2. Paardekooper/Pinheiro (USU) def. Gay/Kurata (UI): 6‐4
3. Asenov/Casino (UI) def. Ninteman/Savin (USU): 7‐6(6)

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles competition
1. Francisco Bascon (UI) def. David Cierny (USU): 6‐3 6‐1
2. Bodin Zarkovic (USU) def. Francisco Gay (UI): 6‐4 2‐6 6‐4
3. Matteo Masala (UI) def. Stijn Paardekooper (USU) 7‐6(2) 3‐6 10‐7
4. Roko Savin (USU) def. Bruno Casino (UI): 6‐7(6) 6‐4 10‐7
5. Taiyo Kurata (UI) def. Nuno Pinheiro (USU): 6‐3 6‐3
6. Mario Duron (UI) def. Christian Holmes (USU): 6‐3 6‐2

Order of Finish: 5, 1, 6, 3, 2, 4

Idaho vs. Denver
Idaho lost two of three matches in doubles and dropped five out of six matches in singles in a 6-1 loss to Denver.

Despite one win in singles, three Vandals battled to a deciding third set on courts one, two and six. Taiyo Kurata was the lone Vandal who earned a victory on Sunday, posting a come-from-behind win over Anish Sriniketh, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Denver 6, Idaho 1

Doubles competition
1. Bascon/Masala (UI) def. Sallay/Miller (DU): 6‐4
2. Herrero Cuesta/Sriniketh (DU) def. Gay/Kurata (UI): 6‐3
3. Sancho Arbizu/Papajcik (DU) def. Asenov/Casino (UI): 6‐4

Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3

Singles competition
1. Nicolas Herrero Cuesta (DU) def. Francisco Bascon (UI): 7‐5 4‐6 6‐4
2. Daniel Sancho Arbizu (DU) def. Francisco Gay (UI): 6‐4 2‐6 6‐4
3. Peter Sallay (DU) def. Matteo Masala (UI): 6‐3 6‐4
4. Conner Olsen (DU) def. Bruno Casino (UI): 6‐1 6‐4
5. Taiyo Kurata (UI) def. Anish Sriniketh (DU): 1‐6 6‐2 7‐5
6. Raffaello Papajcik (DU) def. Mario Duron (UI): 6‐3 2‐6 6‐4

Order of Finish: 3, 4, 5, 6, 2, 1

Up Next
The Vandals head south for the desert to compete in a three day tournament at the Arizona State Invitational in Tempe, Arizona, Feb. 24-26. 

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