March 22, 2002
SAN DIEGO - The 39th-ranked San Diego State women's tennis team did not drop a set in defeating Utah, 7-0, in the Mountain West Conference opener for the Aztecs on Friday morning in Las Vegas.
The Aztecs, which tied a season-best with their third straight victory, have now won seven consecutive Mountain West Conference matches dating back to last season. San Diego State is 8-6 this season and 1-0 in conference action while Utah fell to 7-8 overall and 1-1 in league play.
"We really stepped up and played well," San Diego State coach Peter Mattera said. "We played extremely well in doubles and did a good job of finishing out strong starts in singles play. This is how we want to be playing as conference action begins."
The Aztecs dominated the play, winning the three doubles matches by a combined score of 24-8. San Diego State's number one doubles team of Silvia Tornier and Lindsey Hedberg set the tone for double play and for the whole match with an 8-0 victory over Irini Kotoglou and Ellen Svensson.
SDSU swept all six singles matches, sweeping all 12 sets by a combined set score of 70-31. Tornier, the reigning Mountain West Conference player of the week, followed up the victory in doubles with a 6-3, 6-2 win in number one singles. Her victory came on the heels of wins by Katalina Romero at number four singles, Julie Chidley at number six singles and Katja Karrento at number three singles. Karrento's 7-5, 6-0 win, her third straight dual victory in a row secured the team win for the Aztecs.
The Aztecs will be back in action tomorrow when San Diego State plays a neutral site match in Las Vegas against 31st-ranked Brigham Young. The Cougars entered this afternoon's match with 17th-ranked UNLV with a 6-9 record, including a 1-0 Mountain West Conference record. The Cougars defeated the Aztecs twice last season, including a 4-3 decision in the finals of the 2001 Mountain West Conference Championship. Match time is set for 10 a.m.
"BYU always presents a challenge," Mattera said. "We know we will have to play well to be successful. We are looking forward to it."
No. 39 San Diego State 7, Utah 0
Doubles (SDSU wins point)
No. 1 - Silvia Tornier/Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) def. Irini Kotoglou/Ellen Swensson (Utah) - 8-0
No. 2 - Katja Karrento/Katalina Romero (SDSU) def. Allison Hansen/Cassie Kasteler (Utah) - 8-2
No. 3 - Julie Anna Chidley/Katey Clark-Becker (SDSU) def. Linn Ronnberg/Sheri Esrock (Utah) - 8-6
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles
No. 1 - Silvia Tornier (SDSU) def. Linn Ronnberg (Utah) - 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 - Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) def. Sheri Esrock (Utah) - 7-5, 6-4
No. 3 - Katja Karrento (SDSU) def. Irini Kotoglou (Utah) - 7-5, 6-0
No. 4 - Katalina Romero (SDSU) def. Cassie Kasteler (Utah) - 6-3, 6-0
No. 5 - Indra Erichsen (SDSU) def. Ellen Svensson (Utah) - 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 - Julie Anna Chidley (SDSU) def. Allison Hansen (Utah) - 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish: 4, 6, 3, 1, 5, 2
Clinched Match: 3
Records: SDSU (8-6/1-0 MWC), Utah (7-8/1-1 MWC).