April 28, 2000
LAS VEGAS - Strong winds, desert heat and an inspired effort by UNLV were too much to overcome for the 31st-ranked San Diego State women's tennis team, as the top-seeded Aztecs were upset by No. 4-seed UNLV, 5-3, in the semifinals of the 2000 Mountain West Conference Women's Tennis Championship Friday.
SDSU, which earlier this season defeated UNLV, 6-3, on SDSU's East Courts, fell to 14-8 with the loss and will face New Mexico in Saturday's third place match. UNLV (14-9) faces BYU, a 5-4 winner over the Lobos Friday, in the inaugural MWC women's tennis final.
Playing in high winds, the Aztecs and Lady Rebels split the six singles matches, with SDSU capturing the lower half of the lineup.
However, the Aztecs, who had come out on top in doubles 13-of-20 times this season, were unable to pull out another one as UNLV took both the No. 1 and 2 positions to clinch the match. The Lady Rebel duo of Britta Gabl and Amy Hadziosmanovic teamed up for their first-ever victory at that position with an 8-3 win over SDSU's Lisa Papi and Katja Karrento. At the top spot, the 28th-ranked twosome of Katarina Malec and Marianne Bakken won their 13th-straight with an 8-4 victory over the Aztec pair of Laura Aguero and Whitney Wells. The third doubles match was halted with UNLV ahead 7-5.
"Wind is an equalizer and UNLV handled it better and played through it," SDSU head coach Peter Mattera said. "They played a great match under the conditions we were dealt. Doubles had been our strength this year but UNLV got a big emotional lift when they won the singles match at No. 3.
"Both us and New Mexico are disappointed and we'll see tomorrow which team deals with it better."
SDSU will hear word of a possible NCAA Tournament berth when the selection committee announces its regional pairings on May 4. The Aztecs have participated in the last nine straight NCAA Women's Tennis Championship Tournaments.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 28, 2000
Second Round
Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas
Final Score
(4) UNLV 5(1) SAN DIEGO STATE 3
SINGLES
1. Katarina Malec (UNLV) def. Whitney Wells (SDSU) 6-2, 6-0
2. Veronica Goude (UNLV) def. Laura Aguero (SDSU) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6
3. Marianne Bakken (UNLV) def. Katja Karrento (SDSU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) def. Urska Radanovic (UNLV) 6-0, 6-3
5. Katey Becker (SDSU) def. Britta Gabl (UNLV) 6-2, 7-6
6. Julie Chidley (SDSU) def. Amy Hadziosmanovic (UNLV) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
DOUBLES
1. Malec/Bakken (UNLV) def. Wells/Aguero (SDSU) 8-4
2. Gabl/Hadziosmanovic (UNLV) def. Lisa Papi/Katja Karrento (SDSU) 8-3*
3. Goude/Radanovic (UNLV) vs. Chidley/Hedberg (SDSU) suspended at 7-5
*Clinching Match