Air Force Academy
Idaho State
Falcons Sneak Past Idaho State, 4-3
2/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 16, 2008
The Air Force men's tennis team won its fourth straight match Saturday, edging Idaho State, 4-3, in an exciting match at Pocatello, Idaho. With the win, the Falcons are now 5-2 this season, while ISU fell to 1-2.
Air Force jumped out to an early 1-0 lead by winning all three doubles matches. Sophomore Brett Rodgers and freshman Taylor Soster won at the No. 1 spot, 9-8(4), over Marc Pijoan and Daniel Barrenechea. Sophomore Austin Francis and James Tomlin won at No. 2, while sophomore Michael Gies paired with freshman Johnny Buckingham to win the No. 3 match.
In singles, Air Force did just what it needed to for the victory, winning three of the six matches. Barrenechea tied the match at 1-all with a 6-3, 6-4, win over Tomlin at No. 3, but Soster gave AFA the lead right back by downing Alex Buceta, 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 4 spot.
Rodgers fell at the top spot to Pijoan, 7-5, 6-1, but senior Greg Ferry gave the Falcons a 3-2 lead by winning the No. 6 match, 6-1, 6-0 over David Kutchins. Francis clinched the match for Air Force with a thrilling, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles over Royo. Jeremy Atkin won the No. 5 match for Idaho State in similar fashion, downing AFA's Buckingham, 6-7(4), 7-5, (11-9).
The Falcons look for their fifth straight win on Sunday, Feb. 17 against Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
Air Force 4, Idaho State 3
Singles
1. Marc Pijoan (ISU) def. Brett Rodgers, 7-5, 6-1
2. Austin Francis (AF) def. Javier Royo, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4
3. Daniel Barrenechea (ISU) def. James Tomlin, 6-3, 6-4
4. Taylor Soster (AF) def. Alex Buceta, 7-5, 6-3
5. Jeremy Atkin (ISU) def. Johnny Buckingham, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 11-9
6. Greg Ferry (AF) def. David Kutchins, 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. Rodgers/Soster (AF) def. Pijoan/Barrenechea, 9-8 (7-4)
2. Francis/Tomlin (AF) def. Royo/Buceta, 8-4
3. Buckingham/Michael Gies (AF) def. Atkin/Kutchins, 8-2
Players Mentioned
