March 14, 2002
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The 40th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals of the prestigious Blue/Gray Collegiate Classic on Thursday defeating 25th-ranked Virginia Commonwealth, 4-3. The event, which runs through Sunday, is being held at Lagoon Park.
"VCU is a team that just beat Duke," said SDSU head coach John Nelson. "This was a solid effort in which we showed a lot of heart. Felix (Hardt) played great at No. 2 doubles to help seal the win."
SDSU (6-5) started the day off with a win of the doubles point, with the pairs of Valentine Pest and Felix Hardt and Travis Hasson and Gabe Coren winning at No. 2 and 3, respectively. The SDSU duo of Oliver Maiberger and Ryan Redondo were up 7-6 in No. 1 doubles, but the match was halted after SDSU clinched the point with the wins at No. 2 and No. 3.
SDSU also posted wins at No. 1, 2 and 4 singles. Oliver Maiberger defeated VCU's Florian Marquardt, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 at No. 1. The win at No. 2 came by way of Felix Hardt who defeated VCU's Pedro Nieto, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5. Ryan Redondo won at No. 4, 6-3, 6-1, over VCU's Mats Norin.
The Aztecs next face South Alabama Friday at 11 a.m. South Alabama defeated Middle Tennessee State on Thursday to advance.
Men's College Tennis
Blue/Gray Collegiate Classic
Lagoon Park
Montgomery, Ala.
March 14, 2002
Team Scoring
No. 40 San Diego State 4
No. 25 Virginia Commonwealth 3
Doubles
1. Maiberger/Redondo (SDSU) vs. Marquardt/Nieto (VCU) DNF (7-6)
2. Hardt/Pest (SDSU) def. Ott/Norin (VCU) 8-5
3. Hasson/Coren def. Casquero/Lousao (VCU) 8-3
Singles
1. Oliver Maiberger (SDSU) def. Florian Marquardt (VCU) 6-4, 6-7, 6-1
2. Felix Hardt (SDSU) def. Pedro Nieto (VCU) 7-6, 6-7, 7-5
3. Martin Ott (VCU) def. Valentino Pest (SDSU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. Mats Norin (VCU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Daniel Casquero (VCS) def. Travis Hasson (SDSU) 6-0, 3-6, 7-5
6. Julien Lousao (VCU) Gabe Coren (SDSU) 6-1, 6-2