Boise State Edged in MW Opener at UNLV

Friday, March 29

Las Vegas, Nev.

6 p.m. (MT)

Boise State

UNLV

Wyatt DeMulling vs Lewis-Clark State, Photo by Madison Park

Photo by: Boise State Photo Services

3/29/2019 10:17:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Boise State men's tennis came up short Friday night in Las Vegas as the Broncos were edged 4-3 by UNLV in the Mountain West opener. The Rebels took the early lead by winning the doubles point 2-0, but the Broncos rallied eventually taking a 3-2 lead with singles victories by Luka Soskic, Simon Arca Costas and Wyatt DeMulling. Unfortunately, the Blue and Orange was unable to put the match away as UNLV came back winning the final two contests to claim the team victory.

Trailing by one following doubles play, Boise State rallied in singles to take the lead. It began on court two where Soskic tied the match at 1-1 when he rolled past UNLV's Olle Thestrup in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. The sophomore improved to 11-1 overall with the victory.

After UNLV had regained the lead with a win at No. 4 singles, Arca Costas brought the Blue and Orange even once more. The freshman won a tight set one, then dominated the second to beat Clayton Alenik in two sets 7-5, 6-1 on court five. Arca Costas is now 22-9 overall this year and 11-2 in spring duals.

Wyatt DeMulling gave the Broncos a 3-2 advantage with his straight-set win on court six 6-2, 6-4 over Milos Dabic. The junior has now won nine straight singles matches as he improved to 19-8 on the year and 10-1 this spring.

Unfortunately, Boise State was unable to close out the win as UNLV rallied with the final two victories, including a three-set affair at No. 1 singles that decided the team win. Senior Jack Heslin won set one in a tiebreaker only to see Eric Samuelsson regroup and comeback with a pair of wins in sets two and three to take the match 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 to clinch it for the Rebels.

The loss snapped a four-match win streak as the Broncos moved to 10-4 overall and 0-1 in MW play, UNLV goes to 12-4 and 1-0 MW. Boise State will be back in action Sunday afternoon when the Broncos play at San Diego State.

Match Summary

Boise State (10-4, 0-1 MW) at UNLV (12-4, 1-0 MW)
March 29, 2019 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Fertitta Tennis Complex)

UNLV 4, Boise State 3

Doubles
1. Clayton Alenik/Eric Samuelsson (UNLV) def. Wyatt DeMulling/Stefan Lalovic (BSU) 6-2
2. Jordan Sauer/Olle Thestrup (UNLV) def. Simon Arca Costas/Jack Heslin (BSU) 7-5
3. Richard Solberg/Milos Dabic (UNLV) vs. Luka Soskic/Simon Stenlund (BSU) 5-5, DNF

Singles
1. Eric Samuelsson (UNLV) def. Jack Heslin (BSU) 6-7, 6-2, 6-2
2. Luka Soskic (BSU) def. Olle Thestrup (UNLV) 6-2, 6-1
3. Jordan Sauer (UNLV) def. Max Blancaneaux (BSU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Richard Solberg (UNLV) def. Simon Stenlund (BSU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Simon Arca Costas (BSU) def. Clayton Alenik (UNLV) 7-5, 6-1
6. Wyatt DeMulling (BSU) def. Milos Dabic (UNLV) 6-2, 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,4,5,6,3,1)