(Editor’s note: Montana State University press release)
LEWISTOWN, Idaho – Freshman Marcos Zelver held off a second set rally to clinch a Big Sky road win, as Montana State defeated edged Idaho 4-3 at Lewistown, Idaho, on Thursday.
Zelver coasted to a 6-1 win in the first set, then “lost his bearing a little” late in the second set, according to Bobcat coach Jared Burnham, before steadying and snagging a clinching 6-3 win in the finale. That victory sealed Montana State’s win.
“Marcos played really well for most of the match, Burnham said of the Bozeman High product. “And he got back to his game when he needed to. That was a big win for him and for the team.”
After MSU won the doubles point and Idaho won at No. 2 singles, senior Alex Flink righted the ship with a 6-1, 7-6 win at No. 1 singles. “Al really played well,” Burnham said. Idaho won at No. 4, setting up a turning point contest at No. 3 singles.
MSU’s Joaquin Espinoza dropped the first set, then rallied after trailing 6-5 to force a tie-breaker in set two. Idaho’s George Scarpelli then defaulted, putting MSU in position to win when Zelver took the court.
The Bobcats raise their record to 4-10 overall, 3-4 in Big Sky play, in advance of Saturday’s conference match at Eastern Washington. That is MSU’s last road contest of the regular season.
SINGLES
Alex Flink (MSU) def. C. Neto (UI) 7-6, 6-1
E. Santibowser (UI) def. Dre Brown (MSU) 6-3, 6-2
Joaquin Espinoza (MSU) def. G. Scaprelli (UI) 4-6, 6-6 default
Christian Damgaard Qvist (MSU) def. E. Continho 6-3, 6-4
B. Casino (UI) def. C(reel Smith (MSU) 6-0, 7-6
Marcos Zelver (MSU) def. P. Shin 6-1, 6-3
DOUBLES
Flink/Brown (MSU) def. Neto/Continho (UI) 6-0
Santibowser/Smith (UI) def. Espinoza/Smith (MSU) 6-1
Damgaard Qvist/Grant Wood (MSU) def. Dare/Shin (UI) 6-3
Order of Finish: Singles – 2,1,3,4,5,6, Doubles – 1,2,3
