Men’s tennis goes 2-1 over weekend

The USU Men’s Tennis team won two out of three matches in Arizona this weekend, beating Grand Canyon 5-2, Northern Arizona 6-1 and losing to Arizona 4-3.

“The team played hard today and came away with a good win,” said Aggie head coach Clancy Shields after beating Northern Arizona. “The guys have proven that they can win when the pressure is low. To win the big matches, our guys will have to respond better when the pressure is applied.”

The Aggies started the weekend off Friday with a 5-2 win against Grand Canyon. Utah State took the early doubles point with Marcus Fritz and Dennis Baumgartner winning their match 6-1 and Jaime Barajas and Sebastian Schneider winning 6-3.

Baumgartner, Barajas and Schneider all won their singles matches in straight sets. Karan Salwan came back from a 0-6 first set to win his match 0-6, 7-5, 10-8.

Saturday the Aggies beat Northern Arizona convincingly, 6-1. They made quick work of the doubles matches with Fritz and Baumgartner winning 6-0 and Salwan and Schneider winning 6-3. Matt Sweet and Jack Swindells did not finish their doubles match after earning the doubles point.

The Aggies went 5-1 in singles play with wins in straight sets from Swindells 6-4, 6-2, Baumgartner 6-1, 6-3, Salwan 6-2, 6-1, Barajas 6-3, 6-4, and Sebastian Schneider 6-0, 6-4. Marcus Fritz lost a tough match 1-6, 6-4, 8-10, giving Northern Arizona their only point of the day.

Utah State finished up play on Sunday missing out on the Arizona sweep, losing to Arizona 4-3. The Aggies lost the doubles point with Fritz and Baumgartner losing 6-2. Sweet and Swindells also lost 6-2. Salwan and Schneider did not finish their doubles match after Arizona clinched the doubles point.

The Aggies split the singles matches 3-3 with wins from Baumgartner 6-4, 6-4, Barajas 6-3, 6-4, and Schneider 7-5, 6-3.

The next match is against Northern Colorado Friday at 11 a.m. on the indoor courts at the Sports Academy.

— joebaraiolo@gmail.com

Twitter: @joefish_2