COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) – The seventh-seeded UNLV men's tennis team tested second-seeded Utah State in Friday's first round of the Mountain West tournament but ultimately came up short, 4-1, at a windy Air Force Academy.
The Rebels ended their season at 12-15 overall while the Aggies improved to 11-11.
USU opened the morning by taking both completed doubles matches to earn a 1-0 lead.
That point proved pivotal.
In singles, freshly anointed Mountain West Player of the Year
Christopher Bulus tied things by quickly dispatching Bodin Zarkovic, 6-3, 6-3, to improve to 21-6 on the year. The Aggies took a 3-1 lead with a pair of straight-setters but the remaining matches were all competitive, with two going to three sets. USU clinched, however, with a win on court four and then both other matches were halted.
"The guys left it all out there today and congrats to Utah State," said UNLV head coach
Owen Hambrook. "Always bittersweet to see these seniors finish their time here. We are so proud of Chris Bulus and looking forward to seeing him at the NCAA singles tournament."
UP NEXT: While the Rebels team season is complete, Bulus is expected to earn a spot in the 2022 NCAA Singles Championship, set for late May at the University of Illinois.
2022 MOUNTAIN WEST MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP - QUARTERFINALS
(2) UTAH STATE 4, (7) UNLV 1
April 29, 2022, at Colorado Springs, CO
(USAFA Tennis Courts)
Singles competition
1. #85
Christopher Bulus (UNLVMT) def. Bodin Zarkovic (USU) 6-3, 6-3
2. David Cierny (USU) def.
Jordan Sauer (UNLVMT) 6-2, 6-3
3. Sergi Mico Fenollar (USU) def.
Milos Dabic (UNLVMT) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
4. Felipe Acosta (USU) vs.
Zac Brodney (UNLVMT) 6-4, 6-6 (3-1), unfinished
5. Roko Savin (USU) def.
Zach Garner (UNLVMT) 6-2, 7-5
6. Javier Ruiz (USU) vs.
Anton Ornberg (UNLVMT) 2-6, 6-3, 4-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. David Cierny/Bodin Zarkovic (USU) def.
Milos Dabic/
Zac Brodney (UNLVMT) 6-4
2. Jack Ninteman/Javier Ruiz (USU) def.
Christopher Bulus/
Zach Garner (UNLVMT) 6-3
3. Felipe Acosta/Sergi Mico Fenollar (USU) def.
Jordan Sauer/
Jackson Atherton (UNLVMT) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,5,3)
