March 30, 2002
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State took another step towards claiming the school's second Mountain West Conference regular-season women's tennis title in three years with a 6-1 victory over Colorado State on Saturday morning at the SDSU Courts.
It was the third league victory in as many days for the Aztecs which have now won seven-straight matches and 11 consecutive Mountain West Conference regular-season matches dating back to last season. San Diego State can clinch a share of its second regular-season Mountain West Conference championship with a win in either of its final two league matches.
"This was a very good performance," SDSU coach Peter Mattera said. "We were playing our third match in three days and we played without Katja Karrento but we battled hard and we were rewarded with a victory."
Karrento, a junior from Mariehamn, Finland, who normally plays number three singles and played the last two matches at number one doubles, was held out for precautionary measures.
San Diego State swept the three doubles matches. SDSU quickly won at number three doubles as Julie Anna Chidley and Katey Clark-Becker scored an 8-0 win. The Aztecs duo of Silvia Tornier and Lindsey Hedberg filled in at number one doubles, posting an 8-3 win over Amanda Bartz and Sanja Hansson.
But the Aztecs built good momentum by completing the sweep when Indra Erichsen and Katalina Romero, playing together for the first time, claimed a 9-8 victory over Catherine Sullivan-Sauvageau and Bobbe Vasos at number two.
"When we won at number two doubles it gave us momentum heading into singles play," Mattera said. "Even though we had already won the doubles point, that match provided us with added confidence heading into singles."
San Diego State claimed the match on the strength of victories in one through three singles. Tornier, who had her five match winning streak snapped yesterday, claimed a 6-0, 6-0 victory at number one singles. That was quickly followed by victories by Romero at number three singles, 6-1, 6-1, and Hedberg at number two singles, 6-2, 6-0.
With the team victory secured, Clark-Becker, who was playing injured, retired giving Colorado State's Dasha Zhurin a default victory and the Rams their only point of the day.
The Aztecs concluded the match with Chidley claiming an 8-4 victory in a pro-set match at number six and Erichsen winning a third-set tiebreaker at number four singles.
The Aztecs are now 12-6 overall and 5-0 in Mountain West Conference play, while Colorado State is now 5-10 and 0-2. The Aztecs will take a break from league play when they travel to Pepperdine on Wednesday.
No. 29 San Diego State 6, Colorado State 1
Doubles (SDSU wins point)
No. 1 - Silvia Tornier/Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) def. Amanda Bartz/Sanja Hansson (CSU) - 8-3
No. 2 - Indra Erichsen/Katalina Romero (SDSU) def. Catherine Sullivan-Sauvageau/Bobbe Vasos (CSU) - 9-8 (6)
No. 3 - Julie Anna Chidley/Katey Clark-Becker (SDSU) def. Alexandra Paganetti/Dasha Zhurin (CSU) - 8-0
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
No. 1 - Silvia Tornier (SDSU) def. Sanja Hansson (CSU) - 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 - Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) def. Amanda Bartz (CSU) - 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 - Katja Karrento (SDSU) def. Catherine Sullivan-Sauvageau (CSU) - 6-1, 6-1
No. 4 - Indra Erichsen (SDSU) def. Bobbe Vasos (CSU) - 6-2, 3-6, 7-6
No. 5 - Dasha Zhurin (CSU) def. Katey Clark-Becker (SDSU) - 3-0, ret.
No. 6 - Julie Anna Chidley (SDSU) def. Alexandra Paganetti (CSU) - 8-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 5, 6, 4
Clinched Match: 2
Time of Match: 3:49
Records: SDSU (12-6/5-0 MWC), Colorado State (5-10/0-2 MWC).