LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men's tennis team lost at home for the first time this season, 4-1, to defending league champ Utah State in the Mountain West opener for both schools Friday evening at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
 
The Rebels fell to 9-4 overall and 8-1 in Las Vegas while the Aggies won their fourth straight to improve to 11-4 overall.
 
The hosts started out strong by taking two of three doubles matches for a 1-0 lead. After USU won on court three, the Rebels' took 6-2 victories on both court one and two to grab momentum
 
However, with No. 1 player Olle Thestrup unable to play singles, UNLV's shuffled lineup could not hold off the Aggies. The visitors won three straight-setters and then rallied on court three to clinch it.
 
REBEL OF THE MATCH: Clayton Alenik teamed with Eric Samuelsson to win at the top of the doubles lineup and then was headed to a third set in singles play when his match was halted.
 
QUOTABLE: "After we took the doubles, Utah State got a hot start in singles and even though everyone fought hard, it was just not our day."
-UNLV Head Coach Owen Hambrook
 
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will host Idaho State on Tuesday starting with doubles play at 11 a.m. Admission is free of charge.
 
Men's Tennis Match Results
UTAH STATE 4, UNLV 1
March 15, 2019, at Las Vegas, NV
(Fertitta Tennis Complex)
 
Singles competition 
1. Isaac Arturo Arevalo (USU) def. Jordan Sauer (UNLV) 6-2, 6-2
2. Richard Solberg (UNLV) vs. Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-7, 5-4, unfinished
3. Jose Carvajal (USU) def. Eric Samuelsson (UNLV) 7-5, 6-0
4. Felipe Acosta (USU) def. Milos Dabic (UNLV) 6-3, 6-1
5. Clayton Alenik (UNLV) vs. Rithvik Bollipalli (USU) 2-6, 7-5, unfinished
6. Duro Opacic (USU) def. Tom Ciszewski (UNLV) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
 
 Doubles competition 
1. Eric Samuelsson/Clayton Alenik (UNLV) def. Isaac Arturo Arevalo/Jose Carvajal (USU) 6-2
2. Jordan Sauer/Olle Thestrup (UNLV) def. Rithvik Bollipalli/Sergiu Bucur (USU) 6-2
3. Felipe Acosta/Duro Opacic (USU) def. Milos Dabic/Richard Solberg (UNLV) 6-1
 
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,3,4,6)