SALT LAKE -- Posting it's third consecutive win, the No. 72-ranked BYU men's tennis team (6-13, 1-1) clinched a huge 6-1 conference win over in-state rival Utah today in the Canyon Racquet Club.
BYU won at all three doubles spots, gaining the one point lead over the Utes early in the match. BYU's Richard Dasek and Dominik Kaufhold were off the courts first as they smashed Thomasz Gryzb and Ryan Coutts of Utah 8-3 on court No. 2.
In singles play, three matches went to three set decisions with the Cougars coming out victorious in two of them. Cougar freshman Ivan Kokurin fell at the No. 5 position to Utah's Jason Yap in a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 settlement.
BYU saw wins at the Nos. 1-4 and 6 singles spots with victories from Erik Nyman, Dasek, Chip Hand, Nima Roshan and Alonzo Medina.
"This is a great win for us," head coach Brad Pearce said. "Our guys really played tough today and showed a lot of confidence. Anytime It's always nice to get a win over Utah."
The men's tennis team will be back in action tomorrow against Air Force beginning at 10:00 a.m.
BYU 6, Utah 1Doubles:
Nyman/Roshan (BYU) def. Brateanu/Mann (UU) 8-5
Dasek/Kaufhold (BYU) def. Gryzb/Coutts (UU) 8-3
Hand/Medina (BYU) def. Scott/Yap (UU) 8-6
Singles:
Erik Nyman (BYU) def. Roeland Brateanu (UU) 6-3, 6-2
Richard Dasek (BYU) def. Thomasz Gryzb (UU) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
Chip Hand (BYU) def. Miron Mann (UU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Nima Roshan (BYU) def. Nick Coutts (UU) 6-1, 7-5
Jason Yap (UU) def. Ivan Kokurin (BYU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Alonzo Medina (BYU) def. Ryan Scott (UU) 6-3, 7-5
Final Conference Matches
PROVO -- After tacking on two more wins over the weekend in a thrilling double header, the No. 73-ranked BYU men's tennis team continues conference play as it faces Utah, Air Force and No. 66 New Mexico in Salt Lake City April 15-17 respectively. All three matches will be hosted by the University of Utah and begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Canyon Racquet Club.
"We are really excited about the wins last week," head coach Brad Pearce said. "We feel ready for these three conference matches. The team has worked hard to get to this point."
Thursday's match-up will feature the 9-9 Utes of the University of Utah. The Utes are coming off a 6-0 loss to UNLV two weeks ago. Leading the Utes this year is Roeland Brateanu from Amsterdam, Netherlands, a college transfer from the University of Arizona. Against UNLV, Brateanu went three sets against No.77 Henner Nehles.
Air Force lost its third straight conference match on Sunday falling to No. 70 UNLV 4-2. the Falcons are 12-11 overall with wins over such teams as Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona and Montana.
On Saturday, the Cougars will face New Mexico. The BYU men's team is 2-1 in the last three seasons against the Lobos. Along with the Cougars, New Mexico clinched the conference championship in 2003.
"These are important matches for us," Pearce said. "All of our conference matches are tough this season. We can't look past anybody."
