March 15, 2008
SAN DIEGO - The 56th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team won its second match in row on Saturday with a hard-fought 4-3 triumph over Yale at Aztec Tennis Center. The trio of sophomores Achim Ceban, Matan Shitrit and freshman Andre Feliz were the big winners on the day as each emerged victorious in both doubles and singles play to help SDSU raise its record to 7-5 overall. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs suffered their fourth defeat in a row to fall to 4-6 on the season.
On a blustery Montezuma Mesa, the Aztecs caught fire early on in doubles competition when Ceban and freshman Tim Schulz van Endert notched their fifth straight win as a duo after disposing of Jordan Abergel and Mike Caldwell, 8-6, at the No. 3 position. Moments later, Feliz and Shitrit ousted the brotherly combination of Connor Dawson and Jeff Dawson, 8-5, in the second slot, giving the Scarlet and Black what would prove to be the pivotal doubles point. With a 1-0 lead secured, junior Bartosz Golas and sophomore Juan Gomez completed the sweep after outlasting Calvin Bennett and Josh Lederman, 8-6, on the No. 1 court.
As singles action unfolded, Ceban made quick work of an overmatched Bennett at No. 4, 6-2, 6-0, which extended SDSU's advantage to 2-0. Yale would not go quietly, however as, Lederman pinned a 7-6(4), 6-4 defeat on sophomore Jordan Colman in the sixth spot, pulling the visitors to within 2-1. SDSU gave itself a little more breathing room shortly thereafter when Shitrit prevailed by a 6-3, 6-2 count over Caldwell at the No. 3 position. Then, over on the No. 5 court, Feliz notched his sixth victory in his last seven outings with a 6-3, 6-4 decision over Tom Santoro, which clinched the match for the Scarlet and Black.
Feliz's win was critical as the Bulldogs captured the remaining last two encounters on the day to provide for the narrow final outcome. Gomez appeared destined to even his match after leading Connor Dawson, 5-4, late in the second set at No. 3. However, Dawson rallied to force a tiebreaker where he finally put away his Aztec adversary, 7-5, 7-6(5). Over on the No. 1 court, Golas was locked in an epic battle with Jeff Dawson, but ultimately succumbed, 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 10-6, after falling behind, 5-0, in the super-tiebreaker.
San Diego State closes out its three-match homestand on Monday, March 17, against another Ivy League opponent in No. 67 Princeton at Aztec Tennis Center. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m. PDT.
No. 56 SAN DIEGO STATE 4, YALE 3
Aztec Tennis Center
San Diego, Calif.
Doubles
1. Bartosz Golas / Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Calvin Bennett / Josh Lederman (Yale), 8-6
2. Andre Feliz / Matan Shitrit (SDSU) def. Connor Dawson / Jeff Dawson (Yale), 8-5
3. Achim Ceban / Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU) def. Jordan Abergel / Mike Caldwell (Yale), 8-6
San Diego State wins doubles point
Singles
1. Jeff Dawson (Yale) def. Bartosz Golas (SDSU), 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 10-6^
2. Matan Shitrit (SDSU) def. Mike Caldwell (Yale), 6-3, 6-2
3. Connor Dawson (Yale) def. Juan Gomez (SDSU), 7-5, 7-6(5)
4. Achim Ceban (SDSU) def. Calvin Bennett (Yale), 6-2, 6-0
5. Andre Feliz (SDSU) def. Tom Santoro (Yale), 6-3, 6-4
6. Josh Lederman (Yale) def. Jordan Colman (SDSU), 7-6(4), 6-4
Order of finish
Doubles: 3, 2, 1
Singles: 4, 6, 2, 5*, 3, 1
*match-clinching victory
^super-tiebreaker