Gonzaga University
Utah State
Two Singles Wins Not Enough for MTEN
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
LOGAN, Utah--Despite singles wins from Jordan Smith and Emilio Moreno in the middle of the lineup, the Gonzaga men's tennis team fell 5-2 Sunday to Utah State in Logan, Utah.
Smith and Moreno picked up Gonzaga's two points with wins at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, respectively. Moreno actually finished before Smith, downing the Aggies' Samuel Serrano in three sets. Serrano took an early lead with a 4-6 win in the first set, but Moreno stormed back to take the second 6-1. The Mexicali, Mexico, native doubled up Serrano in the third for his sixth singles win of the dual season. He's tied for the team lead along with Ruadhan O'Sullivan.
Up at No. 3 singles, Smith and Utah State's Jack Swindells also went to three sets. Smith won the first set 6-4, and he won five games in the second but fell 5-7 anyway. He too bounced back to double up his opponent in the third and final set for the 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win, his fourth victory of the dual calendar.
Before Moreno's win added a point for Gonzaga, Utah State took a 3-0 match lead. They opened the contest by winning an extremely close doubles point. Smith and doubles partner Hayden Smith picked up an easy 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles, but the Aggies countered with a 6-3 victory on court three. Then, in the No. 2 doubles contest, Moreno and O'Sullivan were edged by Swindells and Jonas Maier 7-5, giving the home side the doubles point. Utah State also won the first two singles contests to finish: Nos. 2 and 1 singles.
After Moreno gave the Zags a point and staved off elimination, Utah State found that clinching point at No. 6 singles where Connor Arend fell 6-0, 6-1 to Romai Ugarte.
Gonzaga (2-7) will have a week and a half off to practice and prepare for mid-terms before taking the courts again during Spring Break. They begin their annual Spring Break trip to Southern California with a neutral site matchup against Furman in San Diego. That contest will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8.
