OGDEN, UT- The Idaho State men's tennis team took the court twice this week, falling to the Sacramento State Hornets at home in Reed Gym Friday morning 4-3 and dropping their match against Weber State in Ogden, Utah Sunday morning 5-2. After the losses the Bengals will drop to 7-12 on the season and 1-4 in conference play.
In the Bengals match against Sacramento State Friday morning, the Bengals came out firing to start, taking the doubles matches point behind brilliant performances across the board. The No. 1 doubles match team of Andreas Kramer and Valentino De Pellegrin, downing their matchups in convincing fashion 6-3, and the No. 2 doubles team of Patrick Kristensen and Wikus Robbertse defeating their Hornet matchups 6-4. In the No. 3 doubles match Hiroki Fujita and Victor Sklenka's were up 4-3 when the match was called due to the Bengals clinching the doubles matches point. Heading into the singles matches up 1-0 the Bengals were looking to keep up the intensity, however the first three singles matches all came down to the wire and ended in heartbreak for Idaho State. In the No. 1 singles match Valentino De Pellegrin fell 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, in the No. 2 singles match Andreas Kramer lost 0-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), and in the No. 3 singles match Wikus Robbertse fell 4-6, 6-2, 2-6. As the Bengals now trailed 1-3 in the match they looked to sweep the final three singles matches and claim victory, but unfortunately Ethan Lye was not able to get it done as he lost in the No. 6 singles match in a tough three set match 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, and the Hornets clinched the victory. The wins in the singles matches for the Bengals came in the No. 4 and No. 5 singles matches where Victor Sklenka and Hiroki Fujita took it to their opponents and battled for three set victories. The Bengals ended on a high note, but fell in the match 4-3.
Traveling down to Ogden, Utah on Sunday morning, the Bengals sought to avenge their loss the previous match, today they faced the Weber State Wildcats. The Bengals and Wildcats had squared off earlier in the season on February 25th in Pocatello, the Bengals getting the better of the Wildcats as they won the match in a tight one 4-3. All three of the doubles matches were played closely, but the Bengals came up short as their lone victory came in the No. 1 doubles match from the team of Valentino De Pellegrin and Andreas Kramer, winning 6-4. In the No. 2 doubles match Patrick Kristensen and Wikus Robbertse fell in a tight tiebreak 6-7, and in the No. 3 doubles match Victor Sklenka and Hiroki Fujita lost in a close one 4-6. The Bengals went into the singles matches down 0-1 and they did not start off strong, dropping the No. 2 and No. 4 singles match to begin, falling behind 3-0 in the match. Valentino De Pellegrin looked to provide some answers for the Bengals as he defeated his Wildcat opponent in the No. 1 singles match 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, but the Bengals could not get much going after that as Wikus Robbertse and Ege Cankus both fell in tough three set battles in the No. 3 and No. 6 singles matches and the Wildcats clinched the win. The other win in the match for the Bengals came at the No. 5 singles match where Hiroki Fujita took his matchup to school as he won in straight sets 7-5, 7-5. After it was all said and done the Bengals fell to the Wildcats 5-2.
The Bengals will be at home in Reed Gym for their final home match of the season as they play host to #70 Northern Arizona on Saturday April 8th at 11 AM.
