The U men’s tennis team completed the three-day Arizona State University Thunderbird Invitational with mediocre results.
The players who competed include sophomore Tomasz Grzyb and senior Roeland Brateanu.
Both players lost in the singles main draw, as Brateanu lost to Nick Hagerty of ASU (6-1, 6-2) and Grzyb fell to Stjepan Beg of New Mexico State (7-5, 7-6(2)).
In the consolation draw, however, the men got some revenge by each claiming a quarterfinals victory.
Grzyb defeated Matt Ozurovich of San Diego (6-4, 6-4), and Brateanu downed Jon Stott of ASU (6-2, 1-6, 11-9).
While Brateanu was unable to win his semifinal match, Grzyb rode the momentum of his quarterfinals victory to the finals by defeating Danilo Zivanovic of NMSU (6-2, 2-6, 7-6(2)).
However, he was unable to overcome Chris Stewart of ASU in a hard fought, three-match set.
The score was (6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6 3).
In doubles play, the two fared quite a bit better.
After losing in the main draw to Pelva/Lane of Auburn (8-5), they won their next two matches in the consolation draw beating Stott/Hagerty of ASU (8-6) and Plotnik/Ozurovich of San Diego (8-3).
The Utes are now finished with fall tournament play, and are now preparing for two team meets that begin in January.
The first match of the winter season will be in Salt Lake City against Northwestern on Jan. 17.
Matthew Ouellette