PROVO -- The BYU men's tennis team came one step closer to the National Indoor Championships by defeating Boise State 5-2 Friday evening in Boise, Idaho. The Cougars (1-0) will take on San Diego State Saturday afternoon, with the winner advancing to Louisville, Ky. in February for the USTA/ITA Team Indoor Championship.
The Cougars began the match by barely winning the doubles point. Gert Vilms and Carlos Lozano lost at the No. 1 spot, but Erik Nyman and Nic Losee picked up the win at the No. 3 spot. The doubles point came down to the No. 2 spot between Jeff Harbach and Jeff Olsen and Boise State's team of Bouvier/Silva. Harbach/Olsen clinched the doubles point for the Cougars by winning the match 9-8 (6).
In singles play, BYU took four of the six matches to seal the victory. Vilms atoned for the doubles loss by winning at the No. 1 singles over Marcus Berntson 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Anton Rujuk came in to win at the No. 5 position 6-3, 6-3, and Nyman and Harbach won at the No. 4 and No. 6 spots, respectively. Lozano and Losee lost at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.
The Cougars have no time to rest, with the Aztecs waiting for tomorrow's match. San Diego State defeated New Mexico 6-1 earlier Friday to move them into the finals of the Regional Qualifier.