The ITA Regionals always bring the best of the best in collegiate tennis together to compete, and this year is no different. The Idaho men’s tennis team wrapped up the first two days of competition Wednesday and Thursday in Las Vegas.
“Going good, still really early, but good competition,” Idaho coach Art Hoomiratana said. “We’re doing OK. It’s hard to tell, it’s right in the middle. We’ve had some good matches, so far guys are competing really well. We’ve also lost some tough matches. It’s hard to be too disappointed.”
But Idaho was only able to advance two players past the first two rounds. Juniors Jackson Varney and Odon Barta have had the best performances for Idaho thus far.
Barta also took on a Big Sky foe Alex Locci from Northern Arizona for his opening round match, whom he outmatched 6-3, 6-4. The win advanced Barta to the Round of 64 to take on David Fox, the No. 11 seed in the tournament from Denver. Both matches came down to the end, and Barta won 7-5, 7-6.
To start Thursday, Barta played Ryan Andrada from Nevada. Andrada was the No. 22 seed in the tournament, but was no match for Barta as he won 7-5, 4-0. At press time, Barta was playing No. 6 seed Hayden Sabatka from New Mexico.
Varney, who is in his third tournament after transferring to Idaho, defeated Sean Baklini from New Mexico in the opening round on Wednesday in tough match. After Varney lost the opening set 6-1, the transfer from Prairie View A&M won a close second set 7-6 over Baklini. Varney was able take out Baklini in the third set 6-2 and advanced to the Round of 64. Varney had an easier time in his next match, beating Mitchel Knight from Big Sky-foe Northern Colorado 6-4, 6-4.
To start Thursday, Varney took on the No. 1 seed Henry Craig from Denver, where Varney’s run ended with a 2-6, 3-6 loss.
For the rest of the Vandals, the tournament has not gone quite as well.
Freshman Felipe Fonseca won his opening match against Dillon Launius from Air Force 6-2, 2-6, 6-1. The freshman then put up an impressive fight against the No. 12 seed, Brendan McClain of Boise State, in the second round. After splitting the first two sets by scores of 1-6, 6-3, Fonseca lost a close final set to McClain 5-7. Hoomiratana said he was still pleased with Fonseca’s performance.
“Felipe lost to a guy from Boise in three sets,” he said. “It was very competitive. Felipe is playing great.”
At press time, Fonseca continued in the consolation tournament, going against Tom Douglas of New Mexico State.
Senior Cristobal Ramos Salazar has had an up-and-down season so far, mostly due to a nagging elbow injury, which unfortunately flared up again Wednesday. Ramos Salazar came into the tournament seeded at No. 25, but was upset by Jacob Sullivan of BYU in the opening round 6-2, 4-6, 2-6.
“Chris (Ramos Salazar) had a tough match and lost the opening round,” Hoomiratana said. “He had a good consolation. It’s hard to say, the players tend to be really good (at ITA Regionals). His arm’s not doing so great.”
Hoomiratana confirmed it was the same injury that flared up at the Eastern Washington Fall Classic earlier this fall.
“It’s that thing, the elbow,” he said. “It’s just acting up again, but he said he’s going to finish the tournament.”
Ramos Salazar took on Robert Allan from Nevada in the consolation bracket to start Thursday, winning 6-4, 6-4. At press time, Ramos Salazar was playing Air Force’s Jack McCullers.
The tournament continues through the weekend in Las Vegas, ending on Sunday.
Ben Evensen can be reached at [email protected]