April 5, 2007
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Playing in rainy and windy conditions, the 46th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team was forced to move its match with Air Force indoors as the Aztecs walked away with a 7-0 victory at the Academy. The win is the first shutout for SDSU this season and improves its record to 13-6 (4-0 Mountain West Conference) and runs its winning streak to a season-long eight matches.
For just the third time in 2007, San Diego State swept doubles play all by 9-8 scores. At first doubles, 14th-ranked Markus Dickhardt and Christian Groh posted their fifth consecutive victory and the eighth overall in the dual season by defeating Robby Alexander and Ryan White. It was more of the same at the other two positions as Billy Timu and Achim Ceban extended their winning steak to three, while Anthony Gomez and Juan Gomez got their first win of the season by beating Keith Cronican and James Tomlin.
In singles, SDSU was just as dominant notching victories at all six positions for the fourth time in the last seven outings. No. 30 Markus Dickhardt, who downed Alexander in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, for his 15th consecutive singles win, led the Aztecs at the top of the order, while Groh recorded a straight sets victory at No. 2 over the Falcons' Brett Rodgers.
At third and fourth singles, Anthony Gomez and Ceban joined Groh as straight sets winners, while Juan Gomez pocketed a 4-6, 6-0, 10-3, decision over Austin Francis at No. 5. Robert Sabo, who had won three in a row, continued his recent strong play by beating AFA's Tomlin in a pro-set format, 11-9.
San Diego State will continue MWC play tomorrow, April 6, against No. 70 Utah. Match time is set for 2 p.m. MDT in Colorado Springs, Colo.
#46 San Diego State 7, Air Force 0
Doubles
1. #14 Markus Dickhardt/Christian Groh (SDSU) def. Robby Alexander/Ryan White (AFA), 9-8(6)
2. Billy Timu/Achim Ceban (SDSU) def. Brett Rodgers/Austin Francis (AFA), 9-8(8)
3. Anthony Gomez/Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Keith Cronican/James Tomlin (AFA), 9-8(3)
Singles
1. #30 Markus Dickhardt (SDSU) def. Robby Alexander (AFA), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Christian Groh (SDSU) def. Brett Rodgers (AFA), 6-2, 7-5
3. Anthony Gomez (SDSU) def. Keith Cronican (AFA), 7-6(3), 6-4
4. Achim Ceban (SDSU) def. Ryan White (AFA), 6-3, 6-2
5. Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Austin Francis (AFA), 4-6, 6-0, 10-3
6. Robert Sabo (SDSU) def. James Tomlin (AFA), 11-9