DENVER – The University of Denver men's tennis team (7-0, 0-0 Summit) continued its undefeated start to the 2024 dual season with a 5-2 win over Boise State at Denver Tennis Park on Friday night.
 
With the win, Denver moves to 7-0 on the season, taking sole possession of the second-best start to a season in DU's Division I history.

Coach's Notes:
From head coach Drew Eberly: "That was one of the more impressive victories we've had. I thought the level of tennis from both teams was very high, and Boise State is a very good team that is well coached. I thought we played well in doubles, and they took it to us there. Then I think we got five first-sets on the board, and I'm really proud of our guys down low. Raff (Papajcik) and Charlie (Miller) were outstanding.
 
"We've got a tough and resilient team, and we've had quite the adversity in the last week. I'm just really proud of our guys and excited to compete again on Sunday."
 
Doubles:
Boise State took the first point of the day with wins in Nos. 2 and 3 doubles. On Court 3, the teams traded breaks in the second and third games before the Broncos broke again for a 4-2 lead. The top two courts kept it close late into both matches, but a break in what would be the final game in No. 2 doubles gave the point to BSU.
 
Singles:
DU began its comeback with a win at No. 5 singles from sophomore Raffaello Papajcik in just his second singles appearance of the season and his first win. The first set began on serve until Papajcik broke for 4-2 and turned it into a 6-2 win. He broke again early in the second set and added a second break for 5-2 on his way to a 6-3 victory.
 
Senior Charlie Miller gave DU its first lead of the day at 2-1, winning in straight sets with matching 6-4 scorelines. The first set was tight until Miller broke in the final game, and he followed it up with a break for 5-3 in the second set.
 
Just minutes later, junior Daniel Sancho Arbizu put DU within a point of victory in No. 2 singles. Despite late tension in the first set, he followed Miller's lead with a break in the set's final game. He then took a 3-0 lead in the second, turned it into a 5-1 lead and finished it out at 6-2.
 
The Broncos stayed alive with a win in three sets at No. 4 singles. In No. 3 singles, DU graduate student Marvin Schaber, too, found himself in a third set after easily taking the first set but dropping a tight second-set tiebreak. He responded by gaining a 3-1 lead in the final set and stretched it to 5-2 before winning it in the next game to clinch the dual for Denver.
 
The final point of the day came in No. 1 singles and a close battle between senior Nicolas Herrero Cuesta and No. 41-ranked Sam Sippel from Boise State. Herrero Cuesta gave up a break in the sixth game but broke back immediately to level the set, though Sippel would go on to claim the opener in a tiebreak. The Denver senior fought back in the second, jumping out to a 4-1 lead and eventually forced a third set with a 6-3 win. Herrero Cuesta held a 3-0 lead when Schaber clinched the win, and both teams opted to play the match to its conclusion. The 3-0 Herrero Cuesta lead became 4-1 and 5-2 leads, and he served it out to finish the night.
 
Up Next:
The University of Denver men's tennis team plays again at Denver Tennis Park on Sunday, February 18, when it hosts LMU at 10:30 a.m. MT.
 
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