Men's Tennis Notches Wins Against New Mexico and Idaho State

Sunday, February 17

Salt Lake City, UT

10:00 AM

University of Utah

New Mexico

Photo by: Steve Wilson

Men's Tennis Notches Wins Against New Mexico and Idaho State

2/17/2019 7:08 PM | Men's Tennis

SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah men's tennis team earned two victories earlier today, the first one coming against New Mexico with a score of 4-2, followed by a victory against Idaho state with a score of 4-1. With these wins, the Utes will move to an overall record of 8-3 on the season.

"Although it wasn't quite Utah textbook tennis today, we found ways to win and for that I'm proud of our guys," said head coach Roeland Brateanu.

Against New Mexico, the Utes were down early as they dropped the doubles point to the Lobos. Azat Hankuliyev and Dan Little recorded the sole doubles win for the Utes, as they were able to defeat Casey Recci and Tim Buttner on the No. 3 court, with a final score of 6-2.

In singles, the Utes were able to mount a comeback against New Mexico that was started by Mathias Gavelin at the No. 5 position, as he notched a quick victory against Tim Buttner with a score of 6-1, 6-0. Hankuliyev then followed with a win of his own to give the Utes a 2-1 lead, as he topped Casey Reccis at the No. 6 spot, with a 6-4, 6-3 victory. With the score then tied up at 2-2, Little came out on top on the No. 1 court, as he defeated Ricky Hernandez Tong in a competitive match with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Then, to complete the comeback and seal the victory for the Utes, David Micevski bested Dominic West in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, finishing off New Mexico.

Later in the day against Idaho State, the Utes were also unable to earn the doubles point against the Bengals and were down early entering singles. In singles, a comeback was started by Micevski at the No. 2 position, as his opponent, David Felix, retired due to an injury. Slava Shainyan then recorded a victory at the No. 3 spot, knocking off Fynn Lohse with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Then on the No. 4 court, Russell Benkaim pitched in a victory of his own, as he was able to defeated Lukas Ridemar with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Dan Little then finished off the day for the Utes and secured the victory at the No. 1 positon with a win over Peter Trhac, scoring 6-4, 6-3, for the 4-1 win.

The University of Utah men's tennis team will be back in action next week for two home matches at the Eccles Tennis Center. Both matches will be on Saturday, February 23^rd, as the Utes will match up against Marquette at 12 p.m. MT that day, followed by a match against Montana at 5 p.m. MT, to finish off competition for the weekend.

Utah 4, New Mexico 2

Doubles (3,1,2)
Hernandez Tong/Stepan Holis (UNM) def. Cory/Benkaim (UTAH), 6-3
West/Bermejo (UNM) def. Micevski/Shainyan (UTAH), 6-3
Little/Hankuliyev (UTAH) def. Recci/Buttner (UNM), 6-2

Singles (5,6,3,1,2)
Dan Little (UTAH) def. Ricky Hernandez Tong (UNM), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
David Micevski (UTAH) def. Domonic West (UNM), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Stepan Holis (UNM) def. Slava Shainyan (UTAH), 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
Russell Benkaim (UTAH) vs. Facundo Bermejo (UNM), 4-6, 7-5, 5-3, unf.
Mathias Gavelin (UTAH) def. Tim Buttner (UNM), 6-1, 6-0
Azat Hankuliyev (UTAH) def. Casey Recci (UNM), 6-4, 6-3

Utah 4, Idaho State 1

Doubles (1,2)
Trhac/Lohse (ISU) def. Little/Benkaim (UTAH), 6-4
Felix/Rendek (ISU) def. Micevski/Hankuliyev (UTAH), 6-3.
Filipovich/Ridemar (ISU) vs. Gavelin/Shainyan (UTAH), 6-5, unf.

Singles (2,3,4,1)
Dan Little (UTAH) def. Peter Trhac (ISU), 6-4, 6-3
David Micevski (UTAH) def. David Felix (ISU), 3-1, retired.
Slava Shainyan (UTAH) def. Fynn Lohse (ISU), 6-2, 6-3
Russell Benkaim (UTAH) def. Lukas Ridemar (ISU), 6-4, 6-3
Mathias Gavelin (UTAH) vs. Gary Rendek (ISU), 6-2, 6-6, unf.
Azat Hankuliyev (UTAH) vs. Francis Filipovich (ISU), 7-5, 3-3, unf.