March 6, 2005
SAN DIEGO - Playing its first dual match since Feb. 13, the San Diego State men's tennis team was defeated by 21st-ranked Washington, 4-3, in a hard fought battle Sunday afternoon at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. The loss evens the Aztecs' record at 3-3, while the Huskies improve to 10-2 on the season.
In doubles action, the SDSU pair of Dontia Haynes and Eugenio Romero lost at number three, 8-4. But at number one, Armando Carrascosa and Benedikt Stronk evened the score by defeating the Huskies' Daniel Chu-Alex Vlaksi, 8-6. Unfortunately, Daniel Jung and Markus Dickhardt lost a close 8-6 decision at number two to give Washington the doubles point.
Singles play was close throughout as many of the matches went to tiebreakers.
After falling behind 2-0 as a result of losing at number six, SDSU got on the board with a Daniel Jung win at number five. The senior from Germany won in straight sets over Andy Kuharszky, 6-4, 6-2.
Soon thereafter, last year's Mountain West Conference freshman of the year Markus Dickhardt tied the match at 2-2 with his narrow win over No. 37 Christoph Palmanshofer, 7-6(4), 7-6(3).
SDSU continued its outstanding play with its win at number one. Stronk, who suffered from muscle cramps all match long, defeated 32nd-ranked Alex Vlaski, 7-6(5), 7-6(9). The victory gave the Aztecs a 3-2 lead going into the final two matches.
At number four, Haynes battled with Chu for three sets losing the first, 6-3. But the senior came back to win the second set, 6-4, and ultimately lost the third and the match, 7-6(5).
The match that would decide the outcome came down to Carrascosa and the 25th-ranked player in America, Alex Slovic, at number two.
Carrascosa won the first set, 7-6, but Slovic evened the match at 1-1 with a 7-6 victory of his own. But in the third set, Carrascosa caught a few bad breaks and fell, 6-0, to give Washington the win.
The Aztecs will be in action tomorrow, March 7, against Yale at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. The match is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start.
#21 Washington 4, SDSU 3
Doubles
1. Carrascosa/Stronk (SDSU) def. Chu/Vlaski (UW) - 8-6
2. Kuharszky/Slovic (UW) def. Jung/Dickhardt (SDSU) - 8-6
3. Palmanshofer/Ricks (UW) def. Haynes/Romero (SDSU) - 8-4
Washington wins doubles point
Singles
1. Benedikt Stronk (SDSU) def. Alex Vlaski (UW) - 7-6(5), 7-6(9)
2. Alex Slovic (UW) def. Armando Carrascosa (SDSU) - 7-6, 6-7, 6-0*
3. Markus Dickhardt (SDSU) def. Christoph Palmanshofer (UW) - 7-6(4), 7-6(3)
4. Daniel Chu (UW) def. Dontia Haynes (SDSU) - 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5)
5. Daniel Jung (SDSU) def. Andy Kuharszky (UW) - 6-4, 6-2
6. Peter Scharler (UW) def. Eugenio Romero (SDSU) - 6-4, 6-1
order of finish: 6, 5, 3, 1, 4, 2
* clinching match