May 25, 2002
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State's run at the 2002 NCAA Men's Tennis Singles and Doubles Championships in College Station, Texas, came to an end on Saturday as junior Oliver Maiberger fell in singles and Maiberger and sophomore Ryan Redondo lost in doubles.
Maiberger, who was one of only two players who entered the day in both singles and doubles competition, lost to fourth-seeded and sixth-ranked Jesse Witten of Kentucky, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. The Aztec doubles team of Maiberger and Redondo, ranked-third and seeded-third, was defeated 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 by 28th-ranked Phillip King and Michael Yani of Duke.
"We were in both matches," San Diego State head coach John Nelson said. "In the doubles match we had two chances to go up 5-2 in the second set but could not get the winner. It was a good run. For our program to go to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and place individuals in the quarterfinals of both singles and doubles shows how much progress we have made. The good thing is both Oliver and Ryan are back next season."
After dropping the first set in singles, Maiberger broke a three all tie in the second set by winning the final three games of the set. After Witten broke Maiberger's serve to go up 2-0 in the third, The Aztec junior had a break point in the next game but was unable to capitalize. Witten served out the game and eventually took a 5-0 lead before winning 6-1 in the third.
Maiberger, ranked 26th nationally, ended his singles season with a 29-10 record. The junior earned All-America status in singles for the second consecutive season and became the first Aztec men's player to advance to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament in school history.
On just more than an hour rest, Maiberger joined teammate Redondo in their quarterfinal doubles match. The Aztecs won three consecutive games in the first set and built a 4-1 lead before claiming a 6-4 win.
Momentum turned in the second set when the Aztecs led 4-2 and were up 40-15 on the Blue Devils' serve. Unable to close out the game, Duke pulled within 4-3 and won the next three games to claim the second set.
The Blue Devils, which won the final four games of the second set, won the first three games of the third set. Maiberger and Redondo battled back, breaking back and winning the next three games to pull even. But King and Yani closed out the set winning the next three games to advance to the semifinals.
Maiberger and Redondo, which earned All-America honors on Tuesday, ended the season with a 28-9 this season.
NCAA SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP - SATURDAY'S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
(1) Matias Boeker, Georgia def. (46) Nick Rainey, Southern California - 7-5, 6-2(28) David Martin, Stanford def. (13) John Fruttero, California - 7-6 (3), 6-2(6) Jesse Witten, Kentucky def. (26) Oliver Maiberger, San Diego State - 6-3, 3-6, 6-1(49) Ryan Haviland, Stanford def. (25) Brandon Wagner, Georgia - 7-5, 6-2
NCAA SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP - SUNDAY'S SEMIFINAL MATCHES
(1) Matias Boeker, Georgia vs. (28) David Martin, Stanford(6) Jesse Witten, Kentucky vs. (49) Ryan Haviland, Stanford
NCAA DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP - SATURDAY'S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
(27) Andrew Colombo/Mark Kovacs, Auburn def. (33) Thomas Haug/Harsh Mankad, Minnesota - 6-4, 7-5(4) Michael Calkins/Amer Delic, Illinois def. (6) Rodrigo Echagaray/Jose Zarhi, Texas - 6-3, 6-4(28) Phillip King/Michael Yani, Duke def. (3) Oliver Maiberger/Ryan Redondo, San Diego State - 4-6, 6-4, 6-3(2) Scott Lipsky/David Martin, Stanford def. (37) James Cameron/John Chesworth, Furman - 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
NCAA DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP - SUNDAY'S SEMIFINAL MATCHES
(27) Andrew Colombo/Mark Kovacs, Auburn vs. (4) Michael Calkins/Amer Delic, Illinois(28) Phillip King/Michael Yani, Duke vs. (2) Scott Lipsky/David Martin, Stanford
National ranking in parenthesis