SALT LAKE CITY -- The BYU men's tennis team stayed on course in conference play Friday with a 5-2 victory over No. 58 UNLV. The win improves BYU to 11-15 overall and 4-1 in conference play, while it drops UNLV to 13-6 and 2-2 in the conference.
"We are really competing like we thought we would," Coach Brad Pearce said. "We're getting an overall great team effort, and it's because everyone is believing."
The team performed like it believed it would win, and got a special performance from one of its members. After having to default yesterday because of pain in his Achilles tendon, Dominik Kaufhold returned to action for the Cougars like he hadn't missed a beat. In fact it was Kaufhold's win that clinched the match for BYU. BYU had clinched the doubles point behind stellar performances on all three courts, and was leading the match 3-0. Kaufhold won his first set against Elliot Wronski 6-4, and up 5-3 in the second set served to the 6-4, 6-4 win and gave BYU the four points it was looking for. The Cougars got wins from Chip Hand and Jose Lechuga, who chimed in with identical 6-3, 6-1 wins, to get Kaufhold to the match-point situation.
BYU finishes the conference and regular season tomorrow at 1 p.m. against San Diego State. In case of inclement weather, the match will be played indoors at 5 p.m.
BYU 5 UNLV 2
Singles:
1. Joel Kielbowicz (UNLV) def. James Ludlow (BYU); 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
2. Nima Roshan (BYU) def. Romain Massaro (UNLV); 7-5, 7-5
3. Dominik Kaufhold (BYU) def. Elliot Wronski (UNLV); 6-4, 6-4
4. Brett Hunter (UNLV) def. Ivan Kokurin (BYU); 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
5. Jose Lechuga (BYU) def. David Campbell (UNLV); 6-3, 6-1
6. Christian Hand (BYU) def. Jonathan Hooper (UNLV); 6-3, 6-1
Doubles:
1. James Ludlow/ Dominick Kaufhold (BYU) def. Joel Kielbowicz/ David Campbell (UNLV); 8-4
2. Nima Roshan/ Jose Lechuga (BYU) def. Romain Massaro/ Wesley Burrows (UNLV); 9-8
3. Christian Hand/ Jonathan Sanchez (BYU) def. Elliot Wronski/ Brett Hunter (UNLV); 8-5