Tennis pummeled by U
The Utah State men’s tennis team suffered its worst lost of the season this weekend as it fell to the University of Utah 7-0 at the Eccles Tennis Center in Salt Lake City.
The Utes, currently ranked 67th in the nation, swept the Aggies (1-3) across the board. And perhaps even more impressive, they did it without giving up a set.
“(The Utes) played very well,” USU head coach Christian Wright said. “We haven’t had an easy start this season, playing three nationally ranked teams. We competed hard this week, but they just outplayed us. They played very well.”
In doubles, senior Jonas Tyden and freshman Jakob Asplund lost 8-2 to Utah’s Zach Ganger and Miron Mann. Sophomore Oscar Ericsson and senior Fernando Gallegos came up short 8-5 against Amit Maharaj and Stephen Jacobs. In No. 3 doubles, Utah’s Wes Hancock and Timmy Allin blanked senior Mike Banks and sophomore Matt Searle 8-0.
Unfortunately for the Aggies, the Utes were just warming up.
After the U cruised to win the doubles point, the stage was set for the six singles matches and a long-shot Aggie comeback. But as the singles play got underway, it was evident that a come-from-behind upset was not in the stars for USU.
At the No. 1 singles spot, Asplund played tough but fell to Utah’s Ganger 6-0, 6-2. Ganger is the returning ITA Mountain West Regional champion and ended last season ranked 49th nationally.
Ericsson faced off with Mann at the No. 2 spot in what would be the closest singles match of the day. Ericsson played well and made the match interesting before falling 6-3, 6-2.
“Oscar played against a very strong server and volleyer,” Wright said. “He battled really hard and only needed to convert on a couple of key points to swing that match in the other direction.” Hancock topped USU’s Gallegos in third singles 6-2, 6-2, while Ute Jason Smits posted another straight set win in his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tyden.
If the Aggies wanted to avoid being swept in straight sets, it was up to Banks and Searle at the No. 5 and 6 positions. But it wasn’t the Aggies’ day, as both Banks and Searle fell to Utah’s Allin and Maharaj 6-3, 6-1, and 6-1, 6-1, respectively.
The Aggies now look forward to a three-day tournament hosted by New Mexico State. There they will face Northern Arizona University, as well as conference opponents Idaho and New Mexico State. The Aggies lost to Idaho last year but edged the NewMags 4-3 at home. Wright is hoping to repeat that success. “We’re seeing some improvement with our guys,” Wright said. “I think we’re going to do well. I’m confident in our team.”
-jackson.olsen@aggiemail.usu.edu