Chubbuck, Idaho — Three BYU men’s tennis players competed at the Bengal Invitational in Chubbuck, Idaho on Oct. 4 and 5. Idaho State hosted the invitational as six teams competed including BYU, ISU, Eastern Wahsington, Montana, Utah State and Utah.
David Duong, Alex Edmonston and Otto Schreiner competed in the play of the weekend. Edmonston and Schreiner teamed up as a doubles pair, Duong was paired with Keanu Rigby from Utah State and all three competed in singles play.
“This weekend was a great opportunity to get more match play experience and work on a few specifics in each of the guys’ games,” said BYU assistant coach Jonathan Sanchez.
In singles, Edmonston began the play by getting a tough 3-set win against Utah’s Germania Rossi. After dropping the first set 0-6 he battled back and was able to even the score, winning the second set 6-4. In the third, it was another battle but he was able to come out on top and win it 6-4. After a tough first match, he was eliminated in the second round in two sets to Idaho State’s Quentin LaMothe.
Duong also advanced out of the first round after his opponent withdrew from their match. He was eliminated in two sets in the second round by Montana’s eventual semifinalist Baltazar Wiger-Nordas. Duong was then placed in the consolation bracket and was knocked out in two sets by Eastern Washington’s Tyler Waddock.
Schreiner was not able to overcome Montana’s Johnny Wilkinson and was knocked into the consolation bracket in the first round. He then fell in the first round of the consolation bracket to Utah State’s Eliot Nobel after taking it to a tiebreaker and losing 5-7. Schreiner was not able to stay in it and lost the second set, 2-6.
Duong and Rigby dropped their first set to an Eastern Washington pairing. The doubles sets were prosets, first to eight. They lost this set in a tiebreak after a tough set, losing 5-7.
Edmonston and Schreiner won their first set 8-1 against Montana. They then matched up against Utah in the second round. This was a tough match for them as they fought for every game. They won the set 8-6 and advanced to the semifinals. They had to withdraw from the semifinal match due to Sunday play.
“Alex and Otto played some very good doubles,” said Sanchez. “They did a great job staying mentally strong from the beginning to end and never giving their opponents an opening to come back.”
The Cougars racked up one singles win and two doubles wins through the two days of play.
BYU's next tournament will be in two weeks on Oct. 17 at the Fall Regional Tournament in Las Vegas. The Cougars will gear up for regionals after having competed in five tournaments during this fall season.