Despite the return of No. 2 singles player Artemiy Nikitin to the lineup, the Idaho men’s tennis team fell to 3-3 with two losses over the weekend.
The Vandals fell 5-2 to San Francisco Saturday and 5-2 to No. 44 Washington Sunday. Both matches were in Seattle.
“Definitely two good teams … a little disappointed with the USF match. Not in terms of the win or the loss, but I think we could have done a few things better,” Idaho coach Jeff Beaman said. “But we spoke about it as a team and I think the guys did step up against a very good UW team, so that was a big positive.”
Beaman said he was more impressed with the team’s performance against Washington, even though the scores were the same. He said sometimes it’s easier for a team to play better in a match where they are a significant underdog.
The only Vandals to gather wins over the weekend were senior Jose Bendeck and junior Cristobal Ramos Salazar. The two doubles partners accounted for all four of Idaho’s points. The duo won each of their singles matches and swept as partners in doubles play, although Idaho didn’t win either doubles point.
“Something we talk about is focus at all times, and that’s something they really stepped up to,” Beaman said of Bendeck and Salazar. “They had great matches against both USF and the University of Washington — really tough competition. If they’re clicking on all cylinders, they can compete with anybody in the nation.”
Nikitin, a senior from Omsk, Russia, returned to the lineup over the weekend after taking a break due to the passing of his father, Beaman said.
“He brings talent and he brings a good emotional side, he’s a competitor, he supports his teammates. It’s something where we gave him the option of sitting the weekend out, but he wants to be out there,” Beaman said. “He’s no where near top playing performance at this current point, but he’s a competitor and that’s what he did.”
The tough competition continues this weekend for the Vandals. They play another Pac-12 team with Arizona on Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., before beginning WAC play against New Mexico State Sunday in Las Cruces, N.M.
“I think this weekend will be a good indicator of where we’re at and where we’re going,” Beaman said. “You start out with Arizona who’s sort of the big-name Pac-12 (team). The indicator will be the New Mexico State match. That will really show us right now where we are at in the conference.”
Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]