April 26, 2002
SAN DIEGO - The 28th-ranked and top-seeded San Diego State men's tennis team shut out fourth-seeded Utah, 4-0, to advance through the semifinal round of the Mountain West Conference Championship in Las Vegas on Friday.
The Aztecs, which won for the sixth consecutive time and improved to 16-8 overall, will meet 70th-ranked and second-seeded Brigham Young in the championship match on Saturday at 2 p.m. PDT.
"The entire team played well today," head coach John Nelson said. "We played well in doubles and won the first set in five of the six singles matches. We fought hard and I am proud of these guys."
The Aztecs won the doubles point by getting victories at number one and three doubles. Oliver Maiberger and Ryan Redondo, ranked third nationally, won 8-6 at number one while Travis Hasson and Gabe Coren won by the same margin at number three.
San Diego State dominated singles play, getting three straight-set victories to record the win. At number three singles, all-league performer Felix Hardt was a 6-1, 6-2 victor over Nick Yip of Utah. Valentino Pest increased the Aztec advantage with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Corrie Scheepers at number two.
The Aztecs clinched the match when Coren defeated Daniel Lohff, 6-1, 7-5. Coren, a junior from Santa Cruz, Calif., was the only player in the match to record a victory in singles and doubles.
San Diego State and Brigham Young will meet for the third time this season on Saturday. The Aztecs have won the previous two encounters, claiming a 4-3 win on Jan. 26 and a 6-1 victory earlier this month.
No. 32 San Diego State 4, Utah 0
Doubles (SDSU wins point)
No. 1 - No. 3 Oliver Maiberger/Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. No. 25 David Mercier/Nick Yip (Utah) - 8-6
No. 2 - No. 53 Felix Hardt/Valentino Pest (SDSU) vs. Daniel Carlsson/Tyler Poulson (Utah) - DNF
No. 3 - Travis Hasson/Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. Daniel Lohff/Corrie Scheepers (Utah) - 8-6
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
No. 1 - No. 17 Oliver Maiberger (SDSU) vs. David Mercier (Utah) - DNF
No. 2 - Valentino Pest (SDSU) def. Corrie Scheepers (Utah) - 6-1, 6-4
No. 3 - Felix Hardt (SDSU) def. Nick Yip (Utah) - 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 - Travis Hasson (SDSU) vs. Daniel Carlsson (Utah) - DNF
No. 5 - Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. Tyler Poulson (Utah) - DNF
No. 6 - Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. Daniel Lohff (Utah) - 6-1, 7-5
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 6
Clinched Match: 6
Records: San Diego State (16-8), Utah (15-11).