March 29, 2002
SAN DIEGO - The 30th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team, the defending regular-season Mountain West Conference champions, opened the 2002 conference play with a 5-2 victory over New Mexico in Las Vegas on Friday morning.
The Aztecs, which posted a perfect 5-0 league mark last season, improved to 9-7 overall despite playing without All-America candidate Oliver Maiberger for the third consecutive match. Maiberger, suffering from a viral infection, did not accompany the team to Las Vegas. The Lobos are 10-7 overall and 0-1 in conference action.
The Aztecs claimed the doubles point and won four of six matches in defeating the Lobos. The match was tightly contested, with five of the six singles matches going to three sets.
Felix Hardt led the way for San Diego State recording a victory in number one singles over Divan Coetzee in three sets. Hardt also teamed with Valentino Pest to claim an 8-4 win in number one doubles. In addition to his victory in number two doubles, Pest posted a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win over Michael Polasek in number two singles.
Gabe Coren and Khalid Naffa also posted double victories for the Aztecs.
The Aztecs will be back in action Saturday in Las Vegas when San Diego State battles Air Force in a neutral site match.
No. 30 San Diego State 5, New Mexico 2
Doubles (SDSU wins point)
No. 1 - Felix Hardt/Valentino Pest (SDSU) def. Bart Scott/Michael Polasek (UNM) - 8-4
No. 2 - Travis Hasson/Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. Brent Salazar/Ryan Stotland (UNM) - 8-4
No. 3 - David Kowalski/Diego Garza (UNM) def. Ryan Redondo/Khalid Naffa (SDSU) - 8-5
Singles
No. 1 - Felix Hardt (SDSU) def. Divan Coetzee (UNM) - 3-6, 7-6, (10-4)
No. 2 - Valentino Pest (SDSU) def. Michael Polasek (UNM) - 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
No. 3 - Bart Scott (UNM) def. Ryan Redondo (SDSU) - 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
No. 4 - David Kowalski (UNM) def. Travis Hasson (SDSU) - 6-4, 6-3
No. 5 - Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. Diego Garza (UNM) - 2-6, 6-2, 7-6
No. 6 - Khalid Naffa (SDSU) def. Brent Salazar (UNM) - 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Records: SDSU (9-7/1-0 MWC), New Mexico (10-7/0-1 MWC).