March 16, 2002
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The 40th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team got off to a strong start in its Blue Gray Collegiate Classic semifinal match against 8th-ranked Illinois Saturday but was unable to close things out as the Illini rallied to defeat the Aztecs, 4-2.
The loss snapped a four-match winning streak for San Diego State (7-6), which opened the contest with wins in the No. 1 and 3 doubles position to take an early 1-0 lead. Oliver Maiberger and Ryan Redondo won their third straight doubles match, defeating the nation's 7th-ranked duo of Michael Calkins and Amer Delic on court one, 8-6, before Travis Hason and Gabe Coren clinched the point for SDSU on court three with an 8-6 win over Mike Kosta and Nathan Zeder.
However, Illinois (11-3) quickly turned things around in singles with wins in the top three positions to take a 3-1 lead. The Aztecs pulled within a point of the Illini after Ryan Redondo's 6-1, 7-5 win over Calkins on court four. But Zeder was too much for Hasson on court five, defeating the SDSU senior 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the mach for Illinois.
"I'm very pleased with how we played in this tournament," said SDSU head coach John Nelson following the match. "We have improved a lot since the start of the season and we are getting closer to the nation's top teams. To reach the semis in this tournament is a strong showing."
San Diego State returns to action on Thursday, March 21st when the Aztecs host Yale on the SDSU courts.
Men's College Tennis
Blue/Gray Collegiate Classic Semifinals
Lagoon Park
Montgomery, Ala.
March 16, 2002
Team Scoring
No. 8 Illinois 4 No. 40 San Diego State 2
Doubles (SDSU wins doubles point, 2-0)
1. No. 3 Oliver Maiberger/Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. No. 7 Michael Calkins/Amer Delic (ILL) 8-6
2. Felix Hardt/Valentino Pest (SDSU) vs. Philip Stolt/Brian Wilson (ILL) 7-7, DNF
3. Travis Hasson/Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. No. 58 Mike Kosta/Nathan Zeder (ILL) 8-6
Singles
1. No. 9 Amer Delic (ILL) def. No. 19 Oliver Maiberger (SDSU) 6-1, 6-3
2. No. 92 Brian Wilson (ILL) def. No. 104 Felix Hardt (SDSU) 6-4, 6-2
3. No. 43 Philip Stolt (ILL) def. Valentino Pest (SDSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. No. 71 Michael Calkins (ILL) 6-1, 7-5
5. No. 67 Nathan Zeder (ILL) def. Travis Hasson (SDSU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Gabe Coren (SDSU) vs. Chris Martin (ILL) 5-7, 6-4, 4-4, DNF