April 27, 2002
SAN DIEGO - Aztec junior Oliver Maiberger, the 17th-ranked singles player in the nation, rallied from one-set down to win at number one singles and clinched 28th-ranked San Diego State's 4-1 victory over Brigham Young to claim the Mountain West Conference Tournament championship in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The victory was the seventh straight for the top-seeded Aztecs, which improved to 17-8 overall. San Diego State receives an automatic berth into the 2002 NCAA Championships which begins next month. It is the fourth time in the last five seasons that SDSU has advanced to the NCAA team championship. The Cougars fell to 15-9 on the season with three of their losses coming to the Aztecs.
"I am so proud of our team," San Diego State head coach John Nelson said. "Rarely do you find at athlete like Oliver. Someone that comes along and finds a way to win no matter what the circumstance is or what is at stake. I told Oliver that it was going to come down to him and he always finds a way to pull it out."
After splitting number two and three doubles, the team point came down to number one doubles and a battle of two top 10 duos. The Aztec team of Maiberger and Ryan Redondo, ranked third nationally, defeated the Cougars' Carlos Lozano and Gert Vilms, ranked eighth, in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (5). It marked the 11th consecutive match that the Aztecs have claimed the doubles point.
San Diego State increased the lead to 3-0 with a pair of straight-set victories in singles. At number five, Ryan Redondo won 6-2, 6-0, while Felix Hardt posted a 7-5, 6-2 decision at number three. Brigham Young got on the scoreboard with a win at number two by Gert Vilms. Vilms defeated Valentino Pest, 6-4, 6-2.
All three remaining matches split the first two sets. With the outcome of the other two singles matches in jeopardy, Maiberger won a second-set tiebreaker to remain alive and then clinched the team title with his dramatic three-set victory.
The Aztecs will learn their NCAA draw on Thursday afternoon when the NCAA Tournament bracket is announced.
No. 28 San Diego State 4, No. 70 Brigham Young 1
Doubles (SDSU wins point)
No. 1 - No. 3 Oliver Maiberger/Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. No. 8 Carlos Lozano/Gert Vilms (BYU) - 9-8 (5)
No. 2 - No. 53 Felix Hardt/Valentino Pest (SDSU) def. Nic Losee/Erik Nyman (BYU) - 8-3
No. 3 - Jeff Olsen/Jeff Harbach (BYU) def. Travis Hasson/Gabe Coren (SDSU) - 8-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
No. 1 - No. 17 Oliver Maiberger (SDSU) def. Carlos Lozano (BYU) - 3-6, 6-6, 6-2
No. 2 - Gert Vilms (BYU) def. Valentino Pest (SDSU) - 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 - Felix Hardt (SDSU) def. Nic Losee (BYU) - 7-5, 6-2
No. 4 - Travis Hasson (SDSU) vs. Erik Nyman (BYU) - DNF
No. 5 - Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. Jeff Olsen (BYU) - 6-2, 6-0
No. 6 - Gabe Coren (SDSU) vs. Jeff Harbach (BYU) - DNF
Order of Finish: 5, 3, 2, 1
Clinched Match: 1
Records: San Diego State (17-8), Brigham Young (15-9).