This was to be the match Boise State proved it was underrated, the match that earned the respect of the college tennis world. It was not to be.
Despite winning the doubles point, despite taking a 3-2 advantage over a solid tennis team on the road, the Broncos saw victory melt away as the Aggies captured the final two matches.
After Luke Shields and Piotr Dilaj were beaten at #1 doubles, the #3 doubles team of Paul Koenke and Eric Roberson downed the talented duo of Jerry Makowski and Matt Bain 8-5 to tie the doubles count at one match apiece. With the point on the line, Steve Robertson and Clancy Shields came through with an 8-5 win, giving the point to Boise State.
This is all being done without the services of Kean Feeder, one of the top players in the country, who is out with injury.
Steve Robertson went down to Wil Spencer at #3 singles to even the match at one apiece. Blake Boswell was disposed of easily by A & M's Matt Bain to the tune of 6-4, 6-0 to put the Aggies up 2-1.
Piotr Dilaj is two games away from elimination 7-5, 4-1. Unless he can rally, Boise State needs consecutive wins by Brent Werbeck, Clancy Shields and Luke Shields. No one can lose.
Werbeck won 6-3, 6-0, evening the match at two apiece. When #19 Clancy Shields was victorious in his match, Coach Greg Patton's crew was smelling the big win.
However, just as quick as you can say "Bronco respect", Luke Shields, the creme de la creme, Boise State's #1 singles player, fell in three sets after winning the first set 6-2. A & M had tied the match at three victories, sending the raucous crowd's attention to the #5 court, where Dilaj was trying to stave off the Aggie win against Austin Krajicek.
Krajicek had won the first set 7-5 and was serving for the match up 5-4. But Dilaj stopped him and the set eventually went to 6-6 and a tie-breaker. Dilaj jumped out to a 6-2 lead, trying to survive to a third set and keep his team in the match. The tie-breaker lasted 23 minutes, when Krajicek prevailed to give A & M the hard-fought win.
The Broncos, now 5-1 on the season, will try to rebound from their first loss in taking on BYU next Friday in Provo.