FORTH WORTH, Tex. – The Utah Utes men's tennis squad took on Texas Tech Saturday in the ITA Kickoff and fell 4-3. 

Utah started off in doubles play. Ute duo Francisco Bastias and Bruno Caula started things off strong with a 6-3 win in the No. 3 spot. They defeated Piotr Pawlak and Franco Ribero. 

In the No. 2 doubles spot Utah's Franco Capalbo and Geronimo Espin Busleiman took on Olle Wallin and Tyler Steward and fell 6-4.  With the doubles advantage point on the line it came down to the No. 1 spot. Utes Patrik Trhac and Berk Bugarikj took on Reed Collier and Dimitrios Azoids and despite being tied 5-5, Utah fell 7-5 surrendering the doubles point to Texas Tech. 

In singles action the No. 5 spot was the first to finish and Texas Tech came away with the victory to take a 2-0 overall match lead. 

Capalbo was the next Ute to finish and defeated Collier in the No. 2 spot with a 7-6 (5-2), 6-3 win.  The Utes stayed hot with a win in the No. 3 spot by Bastias. He defeated Azoidis 6-2, 7-5.

Trhac took on Ribero in the No. 4 spot and dropped his first set 6-3. He then battled back for a second set 7-5 win to tie his match up at 1-1. Trhac ended up dropping the third set 6-4 to give Texas Tech it's third point overall in the match. 

Espin Busleiman also had an intense three set match in the No. 1 spot with Wallin. Espin Busleiman picked up the first set with a 6-4 score. In the second set, the Ute fell in a tiebreaker for a 7-6 score. Espin Busleiman controlled the third set and ended things with a 6-2 score to claim the point for the Utes.

The overall match was tied up at 3-3 and it came down to the No. 6  singles spot. Utah's Mateo Julio took on Lorenzo Esquici. Julio claimed the first set 6-4 and then dropped the second set in a tiebreak for a 7-6 score. The third set was a close battle . but Texas Tech ultimately claimed it with a 6-4 score claiming the overall match victory. 

UP NEXT
Utah will continue action and the ITA Kickoff in Forth Worth, Tex. on Sunday, January 29. 

FULL RESULTS
Texas Tech 4, Utah 3
Singles competition
1. #29 Geronimo Busleiman (UTAH) def. Olle Wallin (TTU) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
2. Franco Capalbo (UTAH) def. Reed Collier (TTU) 7-6 (5-2), 6-3
3. Francisco Bastias (UTAH) def. Dimitrios Azoidis (TTU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Franco Ribero (TTU) def. Patrik Trhac (UTAH) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
5. Tyler Stewart (TTU) def. Berk Bugarikj (UTAH) 6-3, 7-6
6. Lorenzo Esquici (TTU) def. Mateo Julio (UTAH) 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Reed Collier/Dimitrios Azoidis (TTU) def. #5 Berk Bugarikj/Patrik Trhac (UTAH) 7-5
2. Olle Wallin/Tyler Stewart (TTU) def. Franco Capalbo/Geronimo Busleiman (UTAH) 6-4
3. Francisco Bastias/Bruno Caula (UTAH) def. Franco Ribero/Piotr Pawlak (TTU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,2,3,4,1,6)