LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men's tennis team built a 3-0 lead and won the first set on two remaining courts but saw Utah State storm back for a 4-3 victory in Wednesday's quarterfinal round of the 2023 Mountain West Men's Tennis Championship being hosted at the Darling Tennis Center.

The Rebels, seeded fifth, closed their season at 12-11 overall while the Aggies, seeded fourth, improved to 11-12 while avenging UNLV's win over USU during the regular season.

This time around, UNLV grabbed a 1-0 lead by taking two of three doubles matches. Maxim Verboven and Milos Dabic won 6-4 at the top of the lineup while Aaron Bailey and Dusan Rsovac won 6-3 on court three.

The Rebels quickly took a pair of straight-setters in singles play to seemingly take control. Verboven turned in a dominant 6-3, 6-4 victory over David Cierny at the No. 1 position and Rsovac was equally impressive, 6-2, 6-1, over Nuno Pinheiro at the bottom of the lineup.

Both Bailey at No. 3 and Zach Garner at No. 5 won their opening stanzas but after USU rallied with two straight-set wins of its own, the Aggies came back to win in three sets at both courts to end the thrilling marathon match that began in the hot sun but closed under the lights.

"Tough one today," said UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook. "Everyone battled so hard. It was close, with Aaron even having a few match points, but it just wasn't meant to be. In the end, it was a great college tennis match and I'm so proud of my team and the way they competed."
 

Men's Tennis Match Results
Mountain West Championship Quarterfinals
(4) UTAH STATE 4, (5) UNLV 3
April 26, 2023, at Las Vegas
(Darling Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Maxim Verboven (UNLV) def. David Cierny (USU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Bodin Zarkovic (USU) def. Anton Ornberg (UNLV) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Stijn Paardekooper (USU) def. Aaron Bailey (UNLV) 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5
4. Sergi Mico Fenollar (USU) def. Milos Dabic (UNLV) 6-0, 7-6 (7-1)
5. Roko Savin (USU) def. Zach Garner (UNLV) 7-6 (10-8), 6-3, 6-4
6. Dusan Rsovac (UNLV) def. Nuno Pinheiro (USU) 6-2, 6-1

 Doubles competition
1. Maxim Verboven/Milos Dabic (UNLV) def. David Cierny/Bodin Zarkovic (USU) 6-4
2. Stijn Paardekooper/Nuno Pinheiro (USU) def. Anton Ornberg/Jackson Atherton (UNLV) 6-3
3. Aaron Bailey/Dusan Rsovac (UNLV) def. Jack Ninteman/Javier Ruiz (USU) 6-3

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