Jan. 31, 2006
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Men's Tennis Weekly Release in PDF Format
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SDSU MEN'S TENNIS RETURNS HOME FOR A DOUBLEHEADER ON SUNDAY
* The San Diego State men's tennis team will look to return to the win column on Sunday when it plays host to Cal Poly and UC San Diego at Aztec Tennis Center. SDSU (1-1) will square off against Cal Poly beginning at 9:30 a.m., while the UCSD tilt follows at 2:30 p.m.
This is only the third meeting between the Aztecs and Mustangs dating back to 1996 and the first since the 2001 campaign. SDSU defeated Cal Poly, 5-2, in 2001, while the Mustangs prevailed, 5-4, in 1996.
The Aztecs have won four straight dual matches against Big West Conference opponents under current conference alignments and 10 out of the last 11 dating back to 2001. SDSU's lone defeat during that stretch was a narrow 4-3 loss to UC Santa Barbara in 2004.
The Aztecs and Tritons, meanwhile, are meeting for the second time in three years, with SDSU winning the previous encounter, 5-2, in 2004.
Despite a hard-fought defeat to 20th-ranked USC, the Aztecs got no sympathy this week from the pollsters, falling four spots to No. 47 in the latest Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings released Jan. 31.
After Sunday's doubleheader, the Aztecs will have nine days to prepare for a date with defending national champion and No. 4 UCLA in Los Angeles on Feb. 14.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
* Cal Poly returns five players from a squad that finished 15-13 overall in 2005 and placed fourth at the Big West Conference tournament. The Mustangs were shutout, 7-0, in their season-opening dual at No. 67 Fresno State on Jan. 22, and are in the midst of a four-match stretch of facing ranked opponents. Before tangling with SDSU, Cal Poly (0-1) will head to No. 5 Pepperdine on Saturday, Feb. 4.
Individually, the Mustangs are led by junior John Nguyen who is currently ranked 54th in the latest ITA singles poll. Nguyen boasts a 10-3 record in singles play and is 7-3 in doubles competition.
SCOUTING THE TRITONS
* Sunday's clash with the Aztecs will be UCSD's first dual match of the season. Despite their Division II status, the Tritons bring impressive credentials to Montezuma Mesa, including a No. 14 ranking in the current ITA poll.
The UCSD doubles team of Brent Molden and Eric Rubens is currently ranked second in the nation in the D-II poll, while the tandem of Steven Oechel and Blake Meister occupy the 24th spot. In singles play, meanwhile, Molden received a No. 40 ranking.
NEW FACE ON THE MESA
* The SDSU men's tennis team recently received a valuable addition to its staff when Brandon Fallon was named the Aztecs' new assistant coach. Fallon arrives on The Mesa after spending the past two years as a teaching professional at Advantage Tennis Academy in Irvine, Calif.
Fallon was also a highly successful collegiate player at Cal Poly from 1998-2001 after transferring from UNLV following his freshman year. He was a second-team all-Big West doubles selection for three straight years from 1999-2001 and also posted a 17-5 dual-match record at No. 1 singles in 2001.
Fallon served as the Mustangs' team captain in 2000-01, and after graduation, he remained at his alma mater as an assistant for one season before joining the ITF Futures Tour.
During his stint on tour, Fallon recorded a victory over Amer Delic, who was the 2003 NCAA singles champion.
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