Feb. 18, 2008
TUCSON, Ariz. - The 47th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team found itself in a tight battle with No. 69 Arizona on Monday, but came out on the wrong end of a 5-2 decision at Robson Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz. The Aztecs (2-3) fought tooth-and-nail with the Wildcats (8-1) throughout the match, but were unable to gain the upper hand in singles play after dropping a fiercely contested doubles point.
The tandem of Achim Ceban and Tim Schulz van Endert got the Scarlet and Black off on the right foot with an 8-3 triumph over Andres Carrasco and Pat Metham at the No. 3 position. However, the Wildcats got the equalizer moments later when the duo of Claudio Christen and Jay Goldman outlasted Bartosz Golas and Juan Gomez, 8-5, in the No. 1 spot. All eyes then turned to the No. 2 court where Andre Feliz and Matan Shitrit engaged Arizona's Bruno Alcala and Ravid Hazi in an epic dual. The SDSU pairing forced a tiebreaker after staving off two match points, but ultimately succumbed by a 9-8(7) count, which gave the home team an early 1-0 lead.
Shitrit shook off the bitter defeat in singles action as the Aztec sophomore knocked off Peter Zimmer in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in the fourth slot, which knotted the score at 1-1. SDSU was unable to sustain the momentum, however, as the Wildcats countered with two victories of their own to forge a 3-1 advantage. Alcala dispatched Feliz at the No. 5 position by the identical 6-4, 6-4 margin, while Goldman rallied from an early deficit to upend Gomez, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 2.
With their backs against the wall, the Aztecs pulled to within 3-2 on the strength of Golas' 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 upset of 37th-ranked Christen at center court. The Scarlet and Black then had chances in the remaining two matches, but was unable put away its respective opponents after grabbing early one-set leads. Ceban found himself in a marathon encounter with Carrasco in the No. 3 spot before yielding the clinching point to his Arizona adversary in heartbreaking fashion, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2). Meanwhile, Danny Heidecker suffered a similar fate when Hazi engineered a 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 come-from-behind victory to provide the contest its final outcome.
San Diego State will have the rest of the week off before returning to action on Sunday, Feb. 24, against Memphis at Aztec Tennis Center. Starting time for the 2008 home opener is set for noon PST.
No. 69 ARIZONA 5, No. 47 SAN DIEGO STATE 2
Robson Tennis Center
Tucson, Ariz.
Doubles
1. Claudio Christen / Jay Goldman (UA) def. Bartosz Golas / Juan Gomez (SDSU), 8-5
2. Bruno Alcala / Ravid Hazi (UA) def. Andre Feliz / Matan Shitrit (SDSU), 9-8(7)
3. Achim Ceban / Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU) def. Andres Carrasco / Pat Metham (UA), 8-3
Arizona win doubles point
Singles
1. Bartosz Golas (SDSU) def. #37 Claudio Christen (UA), 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. Jay Goldman (UA) def. Juan Gomez (SDSU), 3-6, 6-0, 6-1
3. Andres Carrasco (UA) def. Achim Ceban (SDSU), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2)
4. Matan Shitrit (SDSU) def. Peter Zimmer (UA), 6-4, 6-4
5. Bruno Alcala (UA) def. Andre Feliz (SDSU), 6-4, 6-4
6. Ravid Hazi (UA) def. Danny Heidecker (SDSU), 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish
Doubles: 3, 1, 2
Singles: 4, 5, 2, 1, 3*, 6
*match-clinching victory