Jan. 18, 2008
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Sophomore Achim Ceban posted two victories in singles play on Friday to go along with a doubles triumph, pacing the San Diego State men's tennis team on the first day of competition at the National Collegiate Tennis Classic in Indian Wells, Calif. The three-day day tournament, the Aztecs final tune-up before their dual-match season, features individual results and no team scoring.
Ceban grabbed the first set in his opening-round clash with UCLA's Ahmed Ismail, only to see his Bruin adversary knot the score after a grueling second frame. The Moscow, Russia, native persevered, however, taking the match by a count of 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3. Ceban then rallied from an early deficit in his quarterfinal encounter with Andres Carrasco of Arizona, earning a spot in Saturday's semifinal with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory.
"Achim making the semifinals was a tremendous accomplishment," said SDSU head coach Gene Carswell. "We expect him to continue that momentum on Saturday."
Ceban was also triumphant in doubles action, teaming with junior Bartosz Golas for an 8-1 decision over the tandem of UCLA's Ismail and Peter Zimmer of Arizona. With the win, the Aztec duo advanced to the semifinals, joining the Scarlet and Black team of sophomore Juan Gomez and freshman Andre Feliz, who snuck past the UA pair of Carrasco and Pat Metham, 9-7.
Golas, meanwhile, was also a winner in his first collegiate singles match after outlasting Zimmer, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The Munich, Germany product was unable to duplicate the same result in the quarterfinals, however, falling to Jeremy Drean of UCLA, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, in another three-set battle.
"This is a marvelous event with a lot of high-level competition," Carswell said. "It's a great way to kick off our spring schedule, and we hope to use the experience to our advantage in upcoming matches."
The National Collegiate Tennis Classic resumes on Saturday with both the singles semifinal and consolation rounds starting at 11:30 a.m., followed by doubles competition at 2:30 p.m. The singles champion will receive a wild-card entry into Indian Wells' ATP Pacific Life Tour event later this year.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE TENNIS CLASSIC
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
Indian Wells, Calif.
(SDSU results only)
Doubles--First Round
Achim Ceban / Bartosz Golas (SDSU) def. Ahmed Ismail (UCLA) / Peter Zimmer (Arizona), 8-1
Andre Feliz / Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Andres Carrasco / Pat Metham (Arizona), 9-7
Jeremy Drean / Michael Look (UCLA) def. Tim Schulz van Endert / Matan Shitrit (SDSU), 8-3
Bruno Rosa / Chong Wang (Rice) def. Michael Beron / Danny Heidecker (SDSU), 8-0
Singles--First Round
Achim Ceban (SDSU) def. Ahmed Ismail (UCLA), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3
Bartosz Golas (SDSU) def. Peter Zimmer (Arizona), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
(1) Bruno Rosa (Rice) def. Danny Heidecker (SDSU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Pat Metham (Arizona) def. Juan Gomez (SDSU), 6-2, 7-6(4)
Jeremy Drean (UCLA) def. Andre Feliz (SDSU), 6-2, 6-3
Michael Look (UCLA) def. Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU), 6-3, 6-3
Chong Wang (Rice) def. Michael Beron (SDSU), 6-3, 6-0
Andres Carrasco (Arizona) def. Matan Shitrit (SDSU), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
Singles--Quarterfinals
Achim Ceban (SDSU) def. Andres Carrasco (Arizona), 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
Jeremy Drean (UCLA) def. Bartosz Golas (SDSU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4