BIG SKY CHAMPIONS: Weber State downs Idaho 4-3

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Weber State men's tennis team took down Idaho 4-3 in the Big Sky tournament finals becoming Big Sky Champions Sunday afternoon.

"Idaho has an extremely talented team and we played our best tennis to barely pull it out," Director of Tennis Brad Ferreira said. "What an exciting day for Weber State tennis. I couldn't be prouder of this incredible group of men."

Weber State started the day off by earning the doubles point advantage. A point that was crucial to the Wildcat victory.

Hou-En Chen and Landon Barlow picked up the first Weber State win of the day by defeating Lucas Coutinho and Mark Kovacs in the No. 3 spot with a score of 6-3.

The Vandals defeated the Wildcats in the No. 1 doubles spot so the doubles point came down to the No. 2 match.

Todd Fought and Jakub Gewert came through for Weber State picking up a 6-4 win over Odon Barta and Felipe Fonesca.

The singles competition started slow for Weber State as Idaho picked up two wins in the No. 3 and No 4 spots.

In the No. 5 spot, Barlow defeated Artem Vasheshnikov. Barlow was trailing in the first set but came back and won 6-4. He then kept the momentum in the second set and never let Vasheshnikov have a chance by taking him down 6-0 in the second set.

After the No. 5 match was done the Vandals picked up another win in the No. 1 spot and the Wildcats trailed 3-2.

Fought tied the match up at 3-3 in his three set win over Fonseca in the No. 2 spot with scores of 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

The championship all came down to the No. 6 spot. Sanjay Goswami beat Coutinho 6-4 in the first set and fell 6-2 in the second set. Goswami had a 5-4 lead in the third and final set and came through with the final set point to give Weber State the overall 4-3 score and the Big Sky Title.

"I hate to say that someone deserves something but these seniors deserved this win," Ferreira said. "They have worked hard and competed extremely well for four years. They've had disappointment of being in the championships three other times and not getting it done. With a 36-6 Big Sky Record they deserved some recognition."

Weber State finished the season with a14-7 overall record and a 10-1 Big Sky Record. The lone Big Sky Conference loss was to none other than Idaho.

Weber State will now advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament. More information on the competition will soon be announced.

Weber State 4, Idaho 3
Singles competition

1. Barta, Odon (UI) def. GEWERT, Jakub (WSU) 6-0, 7-5

2. FOUGHT, Todd (WSU) def. Fonseca, Felipe (UI) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

3. Kovacs, Mark (UI) def. COOPER, Stefan (WSU) 6-4, 6-4

4. Varney, Jackson (UI) def. CHEN, Hou-En (WSU) 6-2, 6-2

5. BARLOW, Landon (WSU) def. Vasheshnikov, Artem (UI) 6-4, 6-0

6. GOSWAMI, Sanjay (WSU) def. Coutinho, Lucas (UI) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Varney, Jackson/Vasheshnikov, Artem (UI) def. COOPER, Stefan/GOSWAMI, Sanjay (WSU) 6-2

2. FOUGHT, Todd/GEWERT, Jakub (WSU) def. Barta, Odon/Fonseca, Felipe (UI) 6-4

3. BARLOW, Landon/CHEN, Hou-En (WSU) def. Coutinho, Lucas/Kovacs, Mark (UI) 6-3

Match Notes:

Idaho 16-7

Weber State 14-7

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,4,5,1,2,6)

Big Sky Championship Final

T-2:35 A-351

Players Mentioned

Landon Barlow

Hou-En Chen

Todd Fought

Jakub Gewert