DENVER - The No. 64 University of Denver men's tennis team (5-4) upset No. 54 Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah Saturday night. The Pioneers dominated the Utes, 6-1.

"What a great performance by our team tonight," said Head Coach Danny Westerman. "To go on the road and pick up two tough wins is a huge effort."

The Pioneers jumped out in front and never looked back as they would earn the doubles point to take a, 1-0 lead. Sophomores Diogo Rocha and Yannik James would earn their team leading sixth doubles victory with a, 6-3 win over the pair of Hamza/McGuiness. Junior Henry Craig and freshman Jesse Ruder-Hook would clinch the doubles point and remain undefeated together as they took down the duo of Sierra/Jonhagen, 6-4.

Craig would keep the momentum as he swept Hamza, 6-0, 6-4 on court one to push the score to, 2-0. Sophomore Alex Gasson would follow suit with a sweep of his own, 7-5, 6-2. Ruder-Hook would clinch the Pioneers fifth win on the season with a three set win, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. James would earn his seventh singles win on the season when he beat McGuiness, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-3. Rocha would cap off the, 6-1 win with a three set victory as well, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-5.

"Great to see Jesse (Ruder-Hook) step up and help clinch both the doubles and the overall team win tonight," said Westerman.

The Pioneers will host the visiting Drake Bulldogs Saturday February 21, at Noon MT at the Lifetime Fitness Center in Centennial.

#64 Denver 6, #54 University of Utah 1
Doubles competition

1. Cedric Willems/Matt Cowley (UTAH) def. Alex Gasson/David Fox (DEN) 6-3
2. Diogo Rocha/Yannik James (DEN) def. Slim Hamza/Parker McGuiness (UTAH) 6-3
3. Henry Craig/Jesse Ruder-Hook (DEN) def. Santiago Sierra/Johan Jonhagen (UTAH) 6-4

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles competition

1. Henry Craig (DEN) def. Slim Hamza (UTAH) 6-0, 6-4
2. Diogo Rocha (DEN) def. Cedric Willems (UTAH) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-5
3. Alex Gasson (DEN) def. Matt Cowley (UTAH) 7-5, 6-2
4. Yannik James (DEN) def. Parker McGuiness (UTAH) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-3
5. Freddie McGeehan (UTAH) def. David Fox (DEN) 7-5, 6-2
6. Jesse Ruder-Hook (DEN) def. Santiago Sierra (UTAH) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Order of finish:1, 3, 5, 6, 4, 2

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