GREELEY, Colo.—The Idaho men's tennis team suffered a bump in the road against Northern Colorado on Friday. The Vandals got out to a 3-0 lead over the Bears but were unable to hold on as UNC scored four straight points, taking the match, 4-3.

“You have to give credit to Northern Colorado,” head coach Abid Akbar said. “UNC fought hard. We did not bring that same effort today. Hopefully this wakes the team up and they come out hungrier on Sunday.”

Idaho (5-2) claimed the doubles point to open its first Big Sky match of the season. Odon Barta and Felipe Fonseca provided the Vandals first win on the No. 2 court, 6-2. UNC evened up doubles with a 6-4 win on the No.1 court. The point was decided in a tight 7-6 battle that Lucas Coutinho and Mark Kovacs prevailed in.

Kovacs followed up with a quick 6-0, 6-2 showing in No. 4 singles over UNC's Connor Finerty. Jackson Varney put Idaho up 3-0 in the match with his 6-1, 6-0 showing in No. 3 singles.

UNC ripped off four straight singles wins, getting the clincher on the No. 2 court. Eric Schuermans outlasted Barta in three sets, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5, gaining the win.

The Vandals trek up north to take on the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota on Sunday. The match is set for 9 a.m. PT.