May 25, 2001
ATHENS, Ga. - San Diego State University sophomore tennis player Oliver Maiberger advanced to the round of 16 at the NCAA men's singles tennis championships on the campus of the University of Georgia, Friday afternoon.
Maiberger dismissed Adam Carey of 2001 NCAA runner-up Tennessee, 7-5, 6-2, becoming the first Aztec to reach the singles sweet 16. He will to meet Phil King of Duke Saturday with the winner advancing to the national quarterfinals.
"Carey is the kind of player that can rally from the baseline with you all day long," said SDSU head coach John Nelson after the match that was played completely indoors due to rain. "But Oliver did a great job of coming to the net and taking the match to him. Olie had much more of a complete, all-around game today and when he got the upper hand he stepped up and made something happen."
Maiberger, now 22-3 on the season and the reigning Mountain West Conference player of the year, has won all four of his sets in the tournament, including Thursday's straight-sets win over defending national champion and second-seeded Alex Kim of Stanford.
"Coming into today I wasn't even thinking about being an All-American. It was just the second round of the tournament for me," Maiberger said. "I am honored, but tomorrow is the third round I hope I can do some more damage."
Maiberger is scheduled to team with SDSU's Adam Webster in the opening round of doubles play Friday night at 8:30 p.m. (EDT) versus Peter Luczak and David Mullins of Fresno State.