March 17, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State had its three-match winning streak snapped on Saturday afternoon as the Aztecs were dealt a 5-1 loss by 11th-ranked North Carolina at Aztec Tennis Center. The defeat puts SDSU's record at 5-6 on the season, while the Tar Heels remain undefeated at 12-0.
In doubles, San Diego State had no answer for UNC as Markus Dickhardt and Juan Gomez had their three-match winning streak stopped when they dropped an 8-3 decision at No. 3. Shortly thereafter, Achim Ceban and Anthony Gomez suffered the same fate as the duo fell by an 8-3 count at the top of the ladder to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Unlike doubles, singles play was competitive in the early going. After the Tar Heels' Karl Wishart cruised to a 6-1, 6-1, victory over Michael Beron at No. 6, 67th-ranked Markus Dickhardt got the Aztecs back into the match at No. 1.
The senior from Germany posted a 6-1, 6-2, win over No. 40 Benjamin Carlotti to bring SDSU to within a point at 2-1. Dickhardt's win was his seventh straight and improved his record to 5-1 at the top singles position and 2-1 over nationally ranked opponents. The victory also represented the highest ranked player he has defeated this season. Prior to Saturday, Dickhardt had beaten No. 83 Alex Slovic of Washington in Seattle in three sets.
However, the Aztecs would not get any closer as North Carolina went on to post wins at Nos. 5, 2, and 4 to provide the match its final margin. With the outcome already decided, the Sebastian Guejman-Anthony Gomez match was stopped at No. 3 resulting in a DNF.
San Diego State will look to get back into the win column on Monday as it welcomes Yale to Aztec Tennis Center. The match is scheduled to get underway at 1:30 p.m. PDT.
#11 NORTH CAROLINA 5, SAN DIEGO STATE 1
Aztec Tennis Center -- San Diego, Calif.
Doubles
1) Lenny Gullan/David Stone (UNC) def. Achim Ceban/Anthony Gomez (SDSU), 8-3.
2) Stefan Hardy/Sebastian Guejman (UNC) def. Christian Groh/Billy Timu (SDSU), 6-5(5).
3) Taylor Fogleman /Chris Kearney (UNC) def. Markus Dickhardt/Juan Gomez (SDSU), 8-3.
UNC wins doubles point
Singles
1) #67 Markus Dickhardt (SDSU) def. #40 Benjamin Carlotti (UNC), 6-1, 6-2.
2) Stefan Hardy (UNC) def. #76 Christian Groh (SDSU), 7-6, 6-4.
3) Sebastian Guejman (UNC) vs. Anthony Gomez (SDSU) 6-1, 2-6, 2-3, DNF.
4) Chris Kearney (UNC) def. Juan Gomez (SDSU), 7-6, 6-1.
5) Taylor Fogleman (UNC) def. Achim Ceban (SDSU), 7-6, 7-6.
6) Karl Wishart (UNC) def. Michael Beron (SDSU), 6-1, 6-1.
Order of Finish
Doubles: 3, 1, 2
Singles: 6, 1, 5, 2*, 4
*match-securing victory