Spring tennis produces the team scores but fall tennis is individually scored and the individual atop the Vandals roster over the weekend was junior Cristobal Ramos Salazar.
Salazar won 24 consecutive games through the first two rounds of the Green Draw at the Baylor HEB Intercollegiate Friday before going 6-3, 6-1 to make the semifinals. He lost in the semifinals falling to Gonzaga’s Vicente Veras 7-5, 2-6, 6-0.
Idaho seniors Artemiy Nikitin and Jose Bendeck reached the round of 16 in the Gold Draw before falling 6-0, 6-4 and 7-5, 6-4 respectively. Bendeck lost to the eventual champion, Julian Lenz of Baylor.
“The guys had some good matches against some high level competition, especially Jose with his very close match with the eventual champion,” Idaho coach Jeff Beaman said. “We will use what we learned from this event to continue to get ready for the regional tournament.”
In doubles, Bendeck and Salazar reached the quarterfinals before falling to sophomores Yates and Hunter Johnson of Louisiana-Lafayette 8-7(7).
The Vandals hit the court again on Friday at the EWU Fall Classic in Cheney, Wash.