The University of Idaho Men’s Tennis team began Big Sky Conference (BSC) play this weekend with back-to-back home matches. The Vandals start their BSC campaign on Friday against Weber State and continue on Saturday against Idaho State.
The Vandals are undefeated at home with a 3-0 record and look to bounce back after losses against Gonzaga University and Boise State University on the road.
Idaho won the doubles point against Gonzaga but were unable to win a singles match. Against Boise State, the Vandals won one doubles match but weren’t able to win a singles match.
“There are a lot of positive takeaways from the Gonzaga match. We took the doubles point. It was the best doubles we’ve played so far this semester, but I don’t think this is our peak yet,” Head Coach Daniel Hangstefer said. “Our goal is to peak in April through the conference season and tournament. The general feeling right now is positive, and it’s been really eager to go out and compete.”
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In-home matches, the Vandals have won all of their doubles matches and have only dropped one singles point against Lewis-Clark State College.
“(The men’s tennis team) feel like they can win on the road or at home. I don’t think that they do it any differently,” Hangstefer said. “Maybe it takes away some of the atmosphere from the other team in terms of their fans. But for us, we feel confident right now. We believe in ourselves whether we’re on the road or at home.
Idaho’s opponents, Weber State and Idaho State faced off earlier in the season with Weber State picking up the win 5-2 at home.
Weber State sits at an overall record of 7-6 and is undefeated in BSC play with two wins. Idaho State sits at an overall record of 5-5 with a 2-1 record in BSC play.
Sophomore Bruno Casino is one of the key players for the Vandals this season. Casino has recorded four singles wins and six doubles wins.
Casino and his doubles partner, freshman Althaf Dhaifullah, won their doubles match against Gonzaga and Boise State. Casino said he is excited for conference play to start and gave his freshman teammates some advice.
“Play it as a normal game. Just go and be as good as you can,” Casino said. “It’s just like another match, even if it’s conference. You just have to play the same way.”
Armin Mesinovic can be reached at [email protected]