Tennis gets smashed
The Utah State men’s tennis team’s woes continued as they fell 6-1 to the University of Utah.
“We knew they were extremely solid,” said Head Coach Chris Wright. “We had the talent to get the win … but we’re still learning and didn’t move particularly well.”
Once again the Aggies opened the match dropping the double point. Hungsoon Park and Roshan Rasekhi proved the toughest competition for the Utes as they fell 8-5 to the Ute duo of Roeland Brateanu and Tomasz Gryzb.
Jason Trask and Ryan Bair were not far behind, falling 8-4 to Dantley Young and Ryan Scott of Utah. Jonah Nelson and Rasekhi fell to Miron Mann and Jason Yap 8-5.
USU also struggled in singles play. Trask managed to come up with a win and is now 3-0 in number four singles.
“Trask is extremely good around the court and difficult for whoever he goes up against,” Wright said. “I love the fact that we know he will go out there and work really hard.”
Players were unimpressed with their performances and their inablity to handle their competition.
“Everyone is playing much below their level,” Rasekhi said. “Against Air Force we were confident, but I think BYU intimidated us … and we aren’t playing our level.”
Trask was able to defeat Utah’s Yap in two sets, 6-1 and 7-6. Hannes Schenk put up the second best individual showing for the Aggies but still fell to Mann in two close sets, 7-5, 7-6.
Playing at the number one singles spot, Park fell to Brateanu 6-4, 6-3. Nelson was defeated by Young 6-2 and 6-3 at the number five singles spot and Bair fell to Utah’s Scott 6-1, 6-3.
“Overall it was a disappointing match,” Trask said. “We came up short and have a few things we need to work on. The talent [on the team] is incredible, we just need to pull everything together to become complete athletes.”
The loss brought the Aggies to 1-3 on the season, but the team is looking to pull through this slump though and to start winning again.
“We are just trying to find the right balance,” Wright said. “We just hope that the guys can stay focused and confident to get back on track.”
Trask said, “We are looking to bounce back [at Idaho]. In the four years that I have played here this is the toughest schedule we have started with. I feel like we are doing OK but it is tough.”
Rasekhi said, “We have good coaches and a good team. We need to keep working and to regain our confidence and come together as a team.”
The Aggies will work to do just that as they travel to Idaho to compete there Feb. 3.
-aedmunds@cc.usu.edu