BYU Makes a Statement With 6-1 Win Over Boise State

PROVO, Utah (March 30, 2002) ? Coming off two tough losses to quality opponents in California, the No. 72 BYU men?s tennis team got back to its winning ways Saturday afternoon. The No. 72 Cougars (8-7, 0-0) dominated No. 75 Boise State on a cloudless day in Provo, winning the match 6-1.

?It was pretty much a statement win made by the team,? BYU head coach Jim Osborne said.

BYU took over right from the start, winning all three doubles matches to take the doubles point. The No. 10 doubles pair of Carlos Lozano and Gert Vilms won 8-6 at No. 1, continuing their strong play. Nic Losee and Erik Nyman teamed up to take the No. 2 position in convincing fashion, 8-3. Jeff Harbach and Jeff Olsen also won their match handily, 8-5, at No. 3.

In singles play, both Vilms and Lozano picked up wins over top-100 players to lead the Cougars to victory. Vilms knocked off No. 98 Marcus Berntson at No. 1, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Not to be outdone, Lozano defeated No. 77 Guillaume Bouvier in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6. Nyman at No. 4, Olsen at No. 5 and Harbach at No. 6 all won their matches in straight sets to finish out BYU?s scoring.

?The good thing is I don?t think we?re playing our best tennis yet,? Osborne said. ?We?re still learning, but I?m happy with our progress so far.?

The match was the last time for three Cougars to play in front of the home crowd. Harbach, Losee and Vilms, all seniors, played well in their final home matches at BYU. The Cougars will be back in action Thursday at New Mexico State. BYU will begin Mountain West Conference play Friday against Air Force and Saturday against New Mexico. Both Friday and Saturday?s matches will be played in Albuquerque.

FINAL RESULTS
DOUBLES
No. 1     No. 10 Lozano/Vilms (BYU) def. Biorkman/Bouvier (BSU) 8-6
No. 2     Losee/Nyman (BYU) def. Berntson/Silva (BSU) 8-3
No. 3     Harbach/Olsen (BYU) def. Rezk/Sirola (BSU) 8-5
BYU WINS DOUBLES POINT
SINGLES
No. 1     Gert Vilms (BYU) def. No. 98 Marcus Berntson (BSU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
No. 2     Carlos Lozano (BYU) def. No. 77 Guillaume Bouvier (BSU) 6-2, 7-6
No. 3     Matias Silva (BSU) def. Nic Losee (BYU) 7-6, 6-3
No. 4     Erik Nyman (BYU) def. Mahmoud Rezk (BSU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 5     Jeff Olsen (BYU) def. Beck Roghaar (BSU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 6     Jeff Harbach (BYU) def. Vedran Sirola (BSU) 6-1, 6-2
BYU WINS MATCH 6-1