The Idaho men’s tennis team suffered its fifth consecutive defeat at the hands of the New Mexico Lobos Tuesday in Albuquerque, N.M. The loss dropped the Vandals to 3-6 on the season and 0-3 on their three-match road trip.
“We’re still not fully capitalizing, playing up to our potential,” Idaho coach Jeff Beaman said. “Some good things (came) out of that match and you just work on getting better.”
Beaman said the play and renewed confidence of No. 3 singles competitor Artemiy Nikitin, who defeated New Mexico’s Rodolfo Jauregui, is something to build on going forward.
“As his confidence comes back, that will be a big plus for the team,” Beaman said. “He’s a guy that can win at No. 1 and as he moves up in the lineup and keeps winning, that puts less pressure on the other guys.”
Alongside Nikitin’s improved performance, Beaman also said that changes to the doubles lineup at No. 2 and 3 helped as well, despite not coming away with a victory at either spot.
Along with Nikitin, Cristobal Ramos Salazar came away with a win at No. 2 singles in three sets over New Mexico’s James Hignett.
This three game stretch was the first time this season that the Vandals had to brace the elements.
“Playing good teams in conditions you’re not used to definitely effects the players,” Beaman said. “We scheduled that trip because the conference tournament is going to be in Las Cruces.”
However, he didn’t use the elements as an excuse and said the team will need to learn to adapt its game and be able to handle the elements in order to compete in the WAC Tournament on April 25-27.
The Vandals will be in action again, this time in a more familiar indoor environment, on Thursday against Gonzaga and Saturday against Missouri-Kansas City in Spokane, Wash.
Joshua Gamez can be reached at [email protected]