Feb. 3, 2006
DENVER - The University of Denver men's tennis team fought hard, but was unable to overcome No. 52 Utah, falling in the season opener 4-3 at Meadow Creek Tennis Club Friday evening. The Pioneers are 0-1 on the season, while the Utes improve to 4-1.
"Considering it was our first match of the year, I was pleased with the way we came out and performed," said head coach Geoff Young. "Capturing the doubles point and also getting Nejc (Smole) back in the lineup were two big positives for our team."
After sitting out most of the last season with a shoulder injury, junior Nejc Smole (Ljubljana, Slovenia) returned to the DU singles and doubles lineup. Smole teamed with senior Steve Flaks (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to defeated Tomasz Grzyb and Jason Yap 8-5 at No. 2 doubles, then ousted Utah's Ryan Scott 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.
No. 1 doubles team Adam Holmstrom (Eskilstuna, Sweden) and Niklas Persson (Stockholm, Sweden) beat Zach Ganger and Nick Coutts 8-6. Ranked No. 28 nationally in singles, Holmstrom also posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Grzyb in the No. 1 singles position.
Holmstrom and Smole were the only two Pioneers to record wins at singles. Persson, ranked No. 92 in the nation, fell 7-5, 7-6(2) to Ganger.
The Pioneers return to the court Saturday hosting Montana State at 7 p.m. at Meadow Creek Tennis Club.
#52 Utah 4, Denver 3
2/3/2006 at Denver, Colo.
Singles competition
1. #28 Adam Holmstrom (DEN-M) def. Tomasz Grzyb (UTAH) 6-1, 6-2
2. Zach Ganger (UTAH) def. #92 Niklas Persson (DEN-M) 7-5, 7-6 (2-0)
3. Nick Coutts (UTAH) def. Viktor Zetterholm (DEN-M) 6-3, 6-1
4. Nejc Smole (DEN-M) def. Ryan Scott (UTAH) 6-3, 6-2
5. Wes Hancock (UTAH) def. Steve Flaks (DEN-M) 6-2, 7-6 (4-0)
6. Dan Mascall (UTAH) def. Kalle Rosen (DEN-M) 7-6 (6-0), 4-6, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Adam Holmstrom/Niklas Persson (DEN-M) def. Zach Ganger/Nick Coutts (UTAH) 8-6
2. Nejc Smole/Steve Flaks (DEN-M) def. Tomasz Grzyb/Jason Yap (UTAH) 8-5
3. Dan Mascall/Wes Hancock (UTAH) def. Viktor Zetterholm/Kalle Rosen (DEN-M) 8-2
Match Notes
Utah 4-1; National ranking #52
Denver 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,3,4,5,2,6)
Official: Doug Chester T-4:30
