LOGAN, Utah – Despite key victories from Matthew Pearce, Keaton Cullimore and Jacob Sullivan, BYU men’s tennis fell to Utah State 4-3 at the Sports Academy and Racquet Club Friday afternoon.
The Aggies (8-6, 0-0 MWC) quickly claimed the doubles point over the Cougars (8-7, 1-0 WCC) as Jaime Barajas and Andrew Nakajima defeated Sam Tullis and Aidan Carrazedo, 6-2, followed by a win on court one as Matthew Pearce and Jeremy Bourgeois fell 6-3 to Kai Wehnelt and Samuel Serrano
In singles play, sophomore Matthew Pearce was the first off the court for BYU with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 win at fourth singles over Sergiu Bucur. Sullivan finished second with his 10th singles victory of the season with a 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Jack Swindells before Bourgeois fell in three sets to Barajas.
With the score tied 2-2, Cullimore came back to defeat Wehnelt, ranked No. 2 in the region, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) at first singles, but Serrano outlasted John Pearce 7-6(4), 6-4 to tie the match again. Jonas Maier then clinched the match for Utah State as Carrazedo came up short, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
Looking to earn their second conference win of the season, the Cougars return to the BYU indoor tennis courts to take on Santa Clara Saturday, March 4, at 5:30 p.m. MST.
Utah State 4, BYU 3
Doubles Results
- Wehnelt/Serrano (USU) def. Bourgeois/M. Pearce (BYU) 6-3
- Swindells/Maier (USU) vs. Cullimore/J. Pearce (BYU) 5-4 (unfinished)
- Barajas/Nakajima (USU) def. Tullis/Carrazedo (BYU) 6-2
Order of finish: (3,1)
Singles Results
- Cullimore (BYU) def. Wehnelt (USU) 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6)
- Sullivan (BYU) def. Swindells (USU) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
- Barajas (USU) def. Bourgeois (BYU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5)
- M. Pearce (BYU) def. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-2, 6-1
- Serrano (USU) def. J. Pearce (BYU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
- Maier (USU) def. Carrazedo (BYU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
Order of finish (4,2,3,1,5,6)