April 13, 2002
SAN DIEGO - For the second time in as many seasons the San Diego State men's tennis team has won the Mountain West Conference championship as the 32nd-ranked Aztecs defeated Brigham Young, 6-1, on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
San Diego State improved to 14-8 overall and 4-1 in conference play, while the Cougars, who entered the day unbeaten in league play, fall to 13-7 overall and 4-1 in Mountain West play. The Aztecs earn the top-seed at the league championship, to be held on April 25-27 in Las Vegas, by virtue of the head-to-head victory on Saturday.
"I am very pleased that we will be the top-seed for the second-straight year," San Diego State head coach John Nelson said. "We are continuing to play better and better. Our doubles teams continue to perform well and Travis Hasson was huge today, earning our first singles point."
The Aztecs got victories at number one and two doubles to take a 1-0 lead. The third-ranked doubles team of Oliver Maiberger and Ryan Redondo bounced back from consecutive defeats by claiming an 8-6 win at number one doubles. Felix Hardt and Valentino Pest were 8-3 winners at number two doubles for the Aztecs.
San Diego State built the advantage to 3-0 with wins at number four and six singles. Travis Hasson was a 6-3, 6-0 winner at number four for SDSU and Gabe Coren claimed a 6-1, 6-4 decision at number six.
After the Cougars won at number two singles, the Aztecs bounced back with three more singles victories, including two in three-sets. San Diego State clinched the team victory, Hardt was a 6-3, 7-6 winner in number three singles.
San Diego State added to the final margin when Redondo won 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 at number five singles and 19th-ranked Maiberger rallied from a one-set deficit to post a 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory at number one singles.
The Aztecs close out the regular-season portion of its schedule tomorrow with a 1:30 p.m. match at the SDSU Courts against Pacific.
No. 32 San Diego State 6, Brigham Young 1
Doubles (SDSU wins point)
No. 1 - No. 3 Oliver Maiberger/Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. Gert Vilms/Carlos Lozano (BYU) - 8-6
No. 2 - Felix Hardt/Valentino Pest (SDSU) def. Jeff Harbach/Jeff Olsen (BYU) - 8-3
No. 3 - Nicolas Losee/Erik Nyman (BYU) def. Travis Hasson/Gabe Coren (SDSU) - 8-6
Singles
No. 1 - No. 19 Oliver Maiberger (SDSU) def. Carlos Lozano (BYU) - 1-6, 7-5, 7-5
No. 2 - Nicolas Losee (BYU) def. Valentino Pest (SDSU) - 6-1, 6-4
No. 3 - Felix Hardt (SDSU) def. Erik Nyman (BYU) - 6-3, 7-6
No. 4 - Travis Hasson (SDSU) def. Jeff Olsen (BYU) - 6-3, 6-0
No. 5 - Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. Jeff Harbach (BYU) - 7-5, 4-6, 10-8
No. 6 - Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. Jose Lechuga (BYU) - 6-1, 6-4
Records: SDSU (14-8/4-1 MWC), Brigham Young (13-7/4-1 MWC).