Three matches, two days, one similar result.
File Photo by Jesse Hart | Argonaut Dmitry Perevoshchikov practices Feb. 28 in the Kibbie Dome. The Vandals played in the Boise State Spring Break Tournamentlast weekend. Idaho lost all three matches in the tournament extending their losing streak to seven.
After losses to Nevada, Utah and Marquette at the Boise State Spring Break Tournament Friday and Saturday, the Idaho Vandals men’s tennis team has racked up seven straight losses.
The streak, which dates back to March 10 when Idaho fell 0-7 to Santa Clara, is the longest of its kind since the Vandals joined the WAC in 2005.
Idaho Director of Tennis Jeff Beaman said the only word that comes to mind when he hears about the streak is disappointing.
“We set the schedule, we do the practices, but at the end of the day we just need to get all of our guys out on the court and compete at the best level they can,” Beaman said. “I know not every guy is going to play perfect everyday, but we can’t just rely on a couple guys to go out there and win us a match.”
The tournament started for Idaho with a face-off against its second WAC foe of the year, Nevada. No doubles were played in the opening match, which Nevada won 4-2 on singles points. Junior Marius Cirstea, Idaho’s No. 1 for the majority of the season, played at the No. 2 singles spot for the weekend, giving junior Abid Akbar the top spot on the roster. Akbar won his first set against Nevada’s Wessim Derbel, but eventually fell 7-6, 3-6, 6-3. The two wins for Idaho against Nevada came from No. 5 Cesar Torres who won 6-4, 6-2, and No. 6 Alan Shin who needed a third-set tiebreaker to defeat Quentin Mege, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5).
Beaman said although Akbar went 1-2 on the weekend, he showed a lot of intensity and skill on the court.
“Abid is a kid that is just getting better and better. He’s really been working on his mental strength and is continuing to mature on the court,” Beaman said. “He is setting himself up great for a strong senior season next year.”
Just four hours after the start of its first match, Idaho was back on the court to face Utah, who lost in the opening round to No. 73 UAB.
Following suit of recent weeks, the Vandals put up a good performance in the doubles point against Utah, winning it 2-1 and taking an early lead in the match. But once again, singles matches derailed Idaho.
Beaman said he is happy to see the early season woes of the doubles game no longer being a problem for the team.
“We worked a lot on our pairings, on doubles techniques and tactics and getting the early lead in matches,” Beaman said. “It’s really paying off that we are getting that opening point.”
Akbar got the Vandals’ sole singles win after coming back from an early deficit to beat Utah’s Benito Suriano 0-6, 6-1, 6-2. All five other Idaho singles players lost giving Utah the 5-2 victory.
In the final match of the tournament, Idaho faced Marquette Saturday. The Golden Eagles, who had also lost both Friday matches, looked to be a better opponent for Idaho, but the Vandals still couldn’t find the elusive win and lost 4-3 in their final match.
Beaman said in order to turn the losing streak around, the team needs to focus on playing harder and closing better.
“Our recent loses really haven’t been blowouts, but close winnable matches,” Beaman said. “We just need to go out there and give our best and finish up matches. We are a very good team and close to turning this around.”
Idaho won the doubles point, but fell short in the singles matches after No. 4 Cameron Tehrani of Marquette defeated Idaho’s Jose Bendeck, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 to secure the win.
Idaho will have another opportunity to get back to its winning ways when it takes on future WAC member UT-Arlington Saturday, and current WAC foe New Mexico State Sunday in Las Cruces, N.M.
Madison McCord can be reached at [email protected].