The Utah men’s tennis team lost 4-2 to UNLV on Sunday in Las Vegas. The match began with doubles play, where the Rebels secured the opening point. UNLV claimed victory at the No. 1 doubles spot, but Utah’s Charles Frey and AJ Deem responded by winning a close match at No. 3, defeating Ilia Snitari and Vitaliy Horovoy in a tiebreaker. In the No. 2 doubles spot, Emmett Potter and Lorenzo Esquici took their opponents to a tiebreaker before falling to UNLV.
In singles competition, UNLV took the first point at the top position. AJ Deem earned Utah’s first singles win of the day by defeating Joel Gibson 6-3, 6-1 at No. 6 singles. The Rebels then added another point at No. 4 singles for a 3-1 lead.
Emmett Potter was credited with a win at No. 2 singles after his opponent Marko Maksimovic retired during their third set with scores standing at 7-6, 5-7, 2-2.
At No. 5 singles, Balthazar Huss forced a deciding third set against Taiyo Hirano but ultimately lost as Hirano closed out the final set for the clinching point that gave UNLV its fourth and deciding win.
On court three, Simeon Terziev’s match against Michael Kouame was left unfinished with Terziev leading in the third set.
Following this loss, Utah holds an overall season record of 3-9. The Utes will return home to Salt Lake City for upcoming matches against Montana State on March 7 and Oklahoma State on March 12 to begin Big 12 conference play.
Fans can follow updates about the team through social media platforms including Twitter (@UtahTennis), Instagram (@UtahTennis), and Facebook (Facebook.com/Utahmenstennis).
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