FRESNO, Calif.- The Fresno State men's tennis team started the WAC Championship tournament on a positive note with a 4-0 win over Utah State. Fresno State entered the WAC Championshis with a No. 2 seed.

"Anything can happen at the championship tournament," head coach Jay Udwadia said. "We came through today and played good tennis, now we are focusing on our match Saturday against New Mexico State."

Fresno State took the doubles point with a win at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. Junior Rudolf Siwy and sophomore Mirko Zapletal beat Asplund and Gallegos, 8-3, at the No. 1 spot.

At the No. 3 spots for doubles, freshman Siddharth Alapati and sophomore Tejesvi Veerepalli helped Fresno State win the doubles point with a victory over Utah State's Thatcher and Braithwaite, 8-2.

The Bulldogs played three solid singles matches to clinch the match for Fresno State. Playing at the No. 3 spot, freshman Martin Nilsson dominated his match, beating Fernando Gallegos, 6-1, 6-3.

At the No. 5 and 6 spots, sophomores Flavio Mollinedo and Taylor Leiby both defeated their opponents in straight-sets, leading Fresno State to its 4-0 victory.

The Bulldogs will play again Saturday at 1pm against New Mexico State in Las Cruces, NM.

NCAA Men's Tennis (WAC Championships - Quarterfinals)
Las Cruces, NM (NMSU Tennis Center)
April 25, 2008

No. 49 Fresno State def. Utah State, 4-0

Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) Siwy/Zapletal (FS) def. Asplund/Gallegos (USU), 8-3
2) Ericsson/Tyden (USU) def. Fafek/Leiby (FS), 5-4 DNF
3) Alapati/Veerepalli (FS) def. Thatcher/ Braithwaite (USU), 8-2
Order of completion: 3, 1

Singles 1) No. 88 Mirko Zapletal (FS) def. Jacob Asplund (USU) 6-6, DNF
2) Tejesvi Veerepalli (FRESNO) vs. Oscar Ericsson (USU) 6-1, 4-3, DNF
3. * Martin Nilsson (FRESNO) def. Fernando Gallegos (USU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Siddharth Alapati (FRESNO) vs. Jones Tyden (USU) 6-3, 5-2, DNF
5. Flavio Mollinedo (FRESNO) def. Matt Searle (USU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Taylor Leiby (FRESNO) def. Alex Thatcher (USU) 6-4, 6-2
Order of completion: 5, 6, 3*
* Clinched Match

Records: Fresno State (16-8), Utah State (6-14)