Feb. 28, 2008
SAN DIEGO - The 50th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team posted four singles victories to go along with a sweep in doubles competition en route to a 5-2 triumph over No. 53 Fresno State on Thursday at Aztec Tennis Center. With the win, SDSU moves to 4-3 on the season, while the Bulldogs (8-3) saw their six-match winning streak come to a halt.
Head coach Gene Carswell utilized the same doubles lineup for the third straight dual, and the results paid off handsomely as the Aztecs took all three encounters for just the second time this season. First off the court was Achim Ceban and Tim Schulz van Endert, who encountered minimal resistance from Martin Nilsson and Mirko Zapletal in an 8-2 thrashing at the No. 3 position. The Aztecs clinched the point soon thereafter when Andre Feliz and Matan Shitrit disposed of Denny Fafek and Taylor Leiby by an 8-3 count in the second spot. With a 1-0 lead in its possession, the Scarlet and Black completed the sweep when Bartosz Golas and Juan Gomez outlasted Rudolf Siwy and Tejesvi Veerepalli, 8-7(5), in the No. 1 slot.
San Diego State kept its foot on the gas in singles play as Shitrit made quick work of Fafek in a 6-3, 6-3 conquest at the No. 4 position. The Aztecs subsequently increased their lead to 3-0 after Ceban pinned a 6-4, 6-2 defeat on Veerepalli in the third spot, which put the brakes on a personal six-match losing skid. Over on the sixth court, Heidecker survived a close shave in the first set against Nilsson before pulling away for a 7-5, 6-1 triumph, which locked up the victory for the Scarlet and Black.
Fresno State dented the scoreboard with two wins of its own in the final three matches of the afternoon. At No. 2, Gomez suffered a 6-4, 6-2 setback at the hands of Zapletal, while Siwy bested Golas in a spirited dual, 7-6(1), 6-4, on the No. 1 court. Sandwiched between those losses was a splendid comeback by Feliz, who overcame early trouble to down Siddarth Alapati, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3, in the fifth position.
San Diego State returns to action on Monday, March 3, when it tangles with No. 24 Rice at Aztec Tennis Center. Match time is set for 1:30 p.m. PT.
No. 50 SAN DIEGO STATE 5, No. 53 FRESNO STATE 2
Aztec Tennis Center
San Diego, Calif.
Doubles
1. Bartosz Golas / Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Rudolf Siwy / Tejesvi Veerepalli (FS) 8-7(5)
2. Andre Feliz / Matan Shitrit (SDSU) def. Denny Fafek / Taylor Leiby (FS), 8-3
3. Achim Ceban / Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU) def. Martin Nilsson / Mirko Zapletal (FS), 8-2
San Diego State win doubles point
Singles
1. Rudolf Siwy (FS) def. Bartosz Golas (SDSU), 7-6(1), 6-4
2. Mirko Zapletal (FS) def. Juan Gomez (SDSU), 6-4, 6-2
3. Achim Ceban (SDSU) def. Tejesvi Veerepalli (FS), 6-4, 6-2
4. Matan Shitrit (SDSU) def. Denny Fafek (FS), 6-3, 6-3
5. Andre Feliz (SDSU) def. Siddarth Alapati (FS) 2-6, 6-0, 6-3
6. Danny Heidecker (SDSU) def. Martin Nilsson (FS), 7-5, 6-1
Order of finish
Doubles: 3, 2, 1
Singles: 4, 3, 6,* 2, 5, 1
*match-clinching victory