May 8, 2000
AZTECS TO MAKE 14TH NCAA APPEARANCE
* The 30th-ranked San Diego State women's tennis team will make its 14th overall and fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament May 13-14, when the Aztecs travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., for first- and second-round action at Wake Forest University.
* The Aztecs open the regional on Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. (EDT) versus No. 31 South Florida. On the other side of the bracket, the host and No. 3-ranked Demon Deacons take on Virginia Tech at 2 p.m. (EDT).
SDSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
* Including its 2000 bid, San Diego State has made 14 trips to the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship.
* SDSU's best finish came in 1984 when the Aztecs placed fourth.
* The Aztecs are 10-15 overall in the NCAA Tournament and 9-14 in first round matches.
* San Diego State has advanced to the postseason in 5-of-7 years under current Aztec head coach Peter Mattera.
* SDSU is 2-4 under Mattera in the NCAA Tournament.
SEEING C-USA AGAIN
* The Aztecs open the 2000 NCAA Tournament against Conference USA champion and 31st-ranked South Florida (17-7).
* It is the second straight year that San Diego State has faced the C-USA champion in the first round. Last year, the Aztecs were knocked off by Marquette, 5-1, in the first round of NCAA play at Berkeley, Calif.
* SDSU is 1-0 all time versus South Florida. The Aztecs have yet to face either Wake Forest or Virginia Tech in the sport of women's tennis.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE AZTECS
* San Diego State enters the NCAA Tournament with a No. 30 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) ranking and a 15-9 overall record. The Aztecs have won three of their last four matches and 6-of-8.
* The Aztecs faced nine of the 64 teams in this year's NCAA field during the 2000 season and posted a 6-4 record in those matches.
* During their 2000 dual match campaign, 20 of the Aztecs' 24 opponents were ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
* SDSU enters the NCAA Tournament with a 10-9 record versus ranked teams and had at least one win against teams from the Pac-10, Big 10, WAC, Big West, and the Ivy League.
* All nine of San Diego State's losses came at the hands of ranked teams.
* The Aztecs have played eight dual matches that ended in 5-4 decisions. SDSU was 5-3 in those contests.
* SDSU had three players turn in 20-win seasons in 2000. Sophomore Julie Chidley is the team leader with a 24-12 record, followed by freshman Lindsay Hedberg, 22-9, and sophomore Katey Becker, 21-9.
MOST RECENTLY: THIRD AT MWC TOURNEY
* San Diego State entered the inaugural Mountain West Women's Tennis Championship in Las Vegas, Nev., as the top seed but had to settle for third after being upset by eventual champion UNLV, 5-3, in the second round.
* SDSU opened the MWC Tournament with an easy 6-0 win over No. 8-seeded Air Force before falling to the Lady Rebels in 40-mile per hour winds in round two. The Aztecs bounced back with a 5-4 win over New Mexico to salvage third-place.
MATTERA NOTCHES 100TH WIN
* SDSU head Coach Peter Mattera recorded win No. 100 of his career on April 14 when the Aztecs defeated No. 38 Fresno State, 5-4. During his tenure at SDSU, Mattera's Aztecs have failed to reach the 10-win plateau only once, 1994. Since taking over prior to the 1993-94 season, SDSU has averaged over 14 wins a season against what is annually one of the nation's toughest schedules. Mattera has now led the Aztecs into postseason play five times in his seven years at the helm, including a current streak of five straight.
SDSU'S HOT FINISH
* After going 9-7 in its first 16 dual matches, San Diego State finished the season on a roll as the Aztecs recorded victories in six of their final eight matches. The Aztecs opened the run with a 6-3 win over conference rival UNLV. A pair of 5-4 wins over the University of San Diego and Fresno State followed before SDSU was finally upset by New Mexico, 5-4. SDSU bounced back with a 6-0 win over Air Force avenged the loss to UNM with a 5-4 win over the Lobos in the MWC third-place match.
STREAKS NONETHELESS
* Twice this season the Aztecs won three straight matches against ranked teams. The first run came from March 3 to March 14 when SDSU defeated No. 26 Tulsa (5-4), No. 53 Princeton (6-3), and No. 62 Washington State (5-3). They duplicated the feat from April 1 to April 14 beating No. 72 UNLV (6-3), No. 75 University of San Diego (5-4) and No. 38 Fresno State (5-4).
BOTTOMS UP
* The key to San Diego State's success in 2000 has been the production the Aztecs have received from the bottom half of their lineup. Through 24 dual matches, SDSU is 50-22 (.694) in the No. 4-6 positions. By contrast, the Aztecs are a combined 29-43 (.403) in the top three spots. SDSU saw most of its success at No. 5 this season, going a combined 18-6.
DOING IT WITH DOUBLES
* San Diego State has continued its tradition of strong doubles play in 2000. In the 22 dual matches in which doubles were contested, SDSU won at least two of the three doubles positions 14 times, including six sweeps.
* The Aztecs were particularly productive in the No. 2 and 3 spots, posting a combined 13-8 (.619) record at No. 2 and a 16-4 (.800) mark at No. 3. In fact, SDSU has captured nine straight matches at No. 3 doubles.
* Senior Lisa Papi and freshman Katja Karrento led the way at No. 2 with an 9-5 record, including five straight wins to close the regular season. Sophomore Julie Chidley and freshman Lindsey Hedberg were even better, posting a perfect 7-0 mark at No. 3.
* Despite going just 5-14, the SDSU doubles pair of senior Laura Aguero and junior Whitney Wells did post a number of impressive wins, including a 9-8 (4) victory over Princeton's 45th-ranked duo of Hastings-Phillips and Large.
CONFERENCE HONORS
* Three Aztecs were named to the inaugural All-Mountain West Conference singles and doubles teams in a vote of conference coaches. Junior Whitney Wells headed the list, being named all-conference in both singles and doubles. Freshman Katja Karrento also received all-league recognition in singles while senior Laura Aguero was voted to the all-conference team in doubles.
* Wells, sophomore Julie Chidley and sophomore Katey Becker all earned Mountain West Conference Player of the Week honors during the 2000 season. SDSU was the only MWC team to have more than one player win the award.
NEVER SAY DIE
* The SDSU doubles team of Julie Chidley and Lisa Papi posted one of the greatest comebacks in Aztec history this season. With the dual match tied at 4-4, Chidley and Papi overcame a 7-0 deficit against Tulsa's Durska and Posada to win 9-8 (7) and preserve a 5-4 Aztec victory.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
* After posting an 11-4 record as a freshman, Julie Chidley returned to register an even better sophomore year. Chidley, who hails from Riverside, Calif., has produced a team-high 24 wins in 1999-00, including a 16-6 record in dual match play.
NICE DEBUT
* Freshman Katja Karrento displayed no first-year jitters in her debut season as an Aztec, posting a solid 19-14 record in her first year of collegiate tennis. Karrento was thrust into the fray early and played at least one match in each of the No. 1-3 slots. She enters the NCAA Tournament with a 14-10 record in dual match play, but saw most of her success at No. 3 where she was 7-4.
SPEAKING OF DEBUTS
* Not to be outdone by her fellow classmate, freshman Lindsey Hedberg turned in a 22-9 singles record for SDSU in 1999-00. Hedberg, who is a rock-solid 12-3 at No. 4, enters the NCAA Tournament on a six-match winning streak - her second six-match run of the year. She also won six straight matches from March 6 to March 21.
STREAKING WITH BECKER
* From March 6 to April 14, sophomore Katey Becker was virtually untouchable in SDSU No. 5 spot, winning 12 of 13 matches, including nine in straight sets. Becker also had two separate five-match winning streaks during the 1999-00 campaign and enters the NCAA Tournament on a four-match run. She finished the season with an 21-9 overall record, but was particularly successful at No. 5, where she boasts a 14-3 mark.
UPDATED AZTEC PLAYER PROFILES
LAURA AGUERO
5-4 * Senior * Satillo, Mexico (Tyler JC)
1999-00: One of the Aztecs most versatile players...Competed in the No. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 spots...Posted an 11-20 overall record on the season, including a 7-16 mark in dual match play...Opened the season on a roll in October, winning four straight matches at the UC Irvine Blue & Gold Invitational before falling to teammate Katey Becker in the final...Won three consecutive matches in February, all in straight sets, for longest dual match winning streak of the season...Defeated UC Irvine's Carla Nasca 6-2, 6-0 and Loyola Marymount's Holli Freudenberg 6-0, 6-2 for top wins...In doubles, teamed with Whitney Wells in SDSU's No. 1 spot...The duo defeated Princeton's 45th-ranked doubles team of Hastings-Phillips and Large 9-8 (4) for best win of the season...The tandem registered a 5-14 overall record in the Aztec's No. 1 doubles position.
KATEY BECKER
5-7 * Sophomore * Orange, Calif. (Villa Park HS)
1999-00: Registered a 21-9 overall record, 16-6 dual match, during the 1999-00 season...Competed for most of the year in the No. 5 spot, where she compiled a 14-3 mark...Enters NCAA Tournament play on a four-match winning streak, including three straight wins during the MWC Tournament...Has also won nine of her last 10 and 16-of-18...Won four straight matches to win the UC Irvine Blue & Gold Invitational during the fall...Won seven straight matches from March 3rd to the 21st, all in straight sets, for longest winning streak of the season...Teamed with Lindsey Hedberg in doubles to go 7-3 in the No. 2 and 3 positions.
EMELIE BENGTSSON-AKERBRANT
5-8 * Freshman * Lidkoping, Sweden (De La Gardie School)
1999-00: Earned her first college win in her first match with a dominating 6-0, 6-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara's Melissa Dillard...Finished the year 1-2 in dual match-play and 4-5 overall...Competed in the No. 6 position...Had an impressive 6-3, 6-3 win over UC Santa Barbara's Camille Behnke...Went a combined 2-1 in doubles play.
JULIE CHIDLEY
5-6 * Sophomore * Riverside, Calif. (Riverside Poly HS)
1999-00: Posted a team-high 24 wins on the season, going 24-12 overall and 16-6 in dual match play...Won all three matches during the MWC tournament to run her current winning streak to five...Has also won nine of her last 10...Has won three straight matches on four separate occasions during the season...Enters NCAA Tournament play at 14-4 in SDSU's No. 6 spot...Defeated USD's Erica Pyne in impressive fashion, 6-0, 6-1, and Ohio State's Katherine Martin 6-1, 6-0...Advanced to the quarterfinals of the UC Irvine Blue & Gold Classic before falling to teammate Whitney Wells...Teamed with Lindsey Hedberg to post a 7-0 record in doubles, all in the No. 3 spot...Top win of season came against Tulsa's duo of Aleksandra Durska and Bianca Posada...With the dual match tied at 4-4, Chidley teamed with Lisa Papi to overcome a 7-0 deficit and win 9-8 (7) to give SDSU a 5-4 win over TU...Was a combined 10-3 in doubles, playing primarily in the No. 3 position with Hedberg.
LINDSEY HEDBERG
5-6 * Freshman * Austin, Texas (Westwood High School)
1999-00: Had an outstanding frosh campaign, going 22-9 overall, including 16-7 in dual match play...Split time in the No. 3 and 4 positions...Went 12-3 at No. 4 during the season and enters the NCAA Tournament on a six-match winning streak...At one point, won eight of 10 matches, seven in straight sets...Won six in a row from March 6-21, and five straight from October 8-15...Began her Aztec career by winning three in a row en route to the SDSU Fall Classic Flight II championship...Was a combined 15-3 in doubles play...Went 8-3 in the No. 2 and 3 positions with teammate Katey Becker, and 7-0 while teamed with Julie Chidley in the No. 3 spot.
KATJA KARRENTO
5-7 * Freshman * Mariehamn, Finland (Alands Lyceum)
1999-00: Finished her freshman campaign with an 19-14 record overall and a 14-10 mark in dual match play while splitting time in the No. 2 and 3 positions...Defeated Cal State Northridge's Isabella Peinter 6-3, 6-4 in her only match in the No. 1 spot...Had a four-match winning streak at one point in the season...Advanced to the finals of the SDSU Fall Classic Flight II before falling to teammate Lindsey Hedberg...Went 17-7 in doubles with three different partners...Posted a 9-5 record with Lisa Papi in the No. 2 position...Recorded a 6-1 record with teammate Whitney Wells in doubles tournament competition during the fall.
LISA PAPI
5-6 * Senior * Fresno, Calif. (Bullard HS)
1999-00: Finished her Aztec career going 5-6, splitting time between the No.'s 5 and 6 slots...Defeated Long Beach State's Melissa Hlebasko 6-1, 6-0...Teamed with Julie Chidley to give the Aztecs a dramatic win over Tulsa by overcoming a 7-0 deficit to the Golden Hurricane team of Aleksandra Durska and Bianca Posada to win 9-8 (7)...Competed in the No. 1, 2, and 3 doubles positions with four different partners (Wells, Karrento, Chidley, Akerbrant)...Had a 18-9 combined record in doubles play...Finished her Aztec career with a 30-31 overall singles record while going 62-39 in doubles competition.
WHITNEY WELLS
5-3 * Junior * Fresno, Calif. (Fresno Christian)
1999-00: Competed as the Aztecs' No. 1 player...Recorded a 12-19 overall record, while going 7-16 in dual match play...Defeated Saint Mary's Karen Holland and UNLV's Britta Gabl 6-2, 6-0...Teamed with Laura Aguero in the No. 1 doubles position for most of the year...The pair finished with a 5-14 overall record...The tandem defeated Princeton's 45th-ranked team of Hastings-Phillips and Large 9-8 (4) for top win on the season...Went 6-1 in tournament play while teamed with Katja Karrento.