Broncos Upset No. 22 Michigan State

Sunday, February 9

Boise, Idaho

11 a.m. MT

Boise State

Michigan State

2/9/2025 4:48:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

BOISE, Idaho – Carson Baker's three-set victory at No. 2 singles completed the Boise State rally Sunday afternoon as the Broncos came from behind to upset 22nd-ranked Michigan State 4-3 at the Boas Indoor Tennis Center in Boise. The win was the first for Boise State over a top-25 team since 2014 and improved the Blue and Orange to 4-1 on the year.

Boise State tied the team doubles point at 1-1 when John Chin and James Van Herzeele won 6-4 on court three. That left No. 1 doubles to decide the point where Carson Baker and Jett Middleton battled hard into a tiebreaker where they were edged 7-6(4) as Michigan State claimed the team point.

Lukas Velik tied the team score at one when he put away MSU's Taym Alazmeh in two sets, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4 singles.

Down 2-1, Van Herzeele rallied from a set down to defeat Mitchell Sheldon of MSU in three sets, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, to tie the team score at two all.

Trailing 3-2, Boise State's Julius Seifert brought the Broncos even when he won on court three 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 to set up the match-clinching victory.

Baker battled through an opening set defeat on a tiebreaker to rally for the win by taking the final two sets to clinch the victory at No. 2 singles over Michigan State's 43rd-ranked singles player, Matthew Forbes, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4.

Top Broncos

James Van Herzeele won both matches at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.
Carson Baker defeated a nationally ranked opponent at No. 2 singles to clinch the match and claim his team-high 13th win of the year.

Notables

It was the first win over a top-25 team since Feb. 22, 2014, when the Broncos defeated No. 21 Clemson 4-3 at the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Alabama.
James Van Herzeele won his 60th career singles match.
Freshman Lukas Velik won his 11th singles match of the year.

Quotables

Luke Shields, head coach

"The message to the guys was 'work don't lie'. We've been putting in the right work since getting humbled versus Columbia in the preseason. The team recommitted themselves. Our goal is to win our practices early in the week and then it frees us up when we compete."
"That Michigan State team is really good. They are a very talented team that is competing for a national championship."
"It's great to see Carson break through and come up clutch in that moment."
"Great team win! All 10 guys played a role today."

What's Next

Boise State will be on the road next week to Wichita, Kansas, where they will face both Wichita State of the American Athletic Conference and Denver of the Summit League.

Results

Boise State (4-1) def. No. 22 Michigan State (4-4) 4-3
Doubles (Order of finish: 2,3,1)
1. Alazmeh/Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Baker/Middleton (BSU) 7-6(4)
2. Sheldon/Sheldon (MSU) def. Taiyo Kurata/Seifert (BSU) 6-1
3. Chin/Van Herzeele (BSU) def. Forbes/Radjenovic (MSU) 6-4

Singles (Order of finish: 4,1,6,5,3,2)
1. #61 Max Sheldon (MSU) def. #115 Jett Middleton (BSU) 7-5, 6-3
2. Carson Baker (BSU) def. #43 Matthew Forbes (MSU) 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-4
3. Julius Seifert (BSU) def. Vuk Radjenovic (MSU) 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4
4. Lukas Velik (BSU) def. Taym Alazmeh (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Danial Rakmatullayev (MSU) def. John Chin (BSU) 6-7(8), 6-2, 6-2
6. James Van Herzeele (BSU) def. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-4