March 18, 2008
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's tennis team looks extend its season-best three-match winning streak on Wednesday, March 19, when it heads across town to lock horns with cross-town rival San Diego beginning at 1:30 p.m. PDT on USD's West Courts. The Aztecs (8-5) rallied to beat Princeton, 5-2, in their last outing on Monday, while the Toreros (7-5) are fresh off a 7-0 blanking of Utah on Tuesday.
With a roster bereft of seniors, 59th-ranked SDSU has been sparked by the recent play of prized freshmen Andre Feliz (San Gabriel, Calif.) and Danny Heidecker (Wesel, Germany), who have combined for 21 wins this season in singles competition. Feliz boasts a team-best 12-6 overall record, while Heidecker has emerged victorious in six of his last seven matches, netting the clinching point against Princeton. Not to be outdone, sophomore Matan Shitrit (Tel Aviv, Israel) has become a force in the top half of the Aztecs' rotation, winning four of his last five encounters. Fellow classmate Achim Ceban has also been playing well of late with three straight wins at Nos. 3-4. The Moscow, Russia, native has excelled in doubles competition as well, capturing eight matches in a row while playing alongside freshman Tim Schulz van Endert (Berlin, Germany) and sophomore transfer Jordan Colman (Palm Desert, Calif.)
The No. 67 Toreros, meanwhile, bring a potent lineup into Wednesday's showdown, sporting two nationally ranked singles players and one doubles tandem. Senior Thomas Liversage, ranked 45th in the latest ITA singles poll, sports a 19-6 record and recently had a six-match winning streak snapped against Minnesota on March 17. Freshman Dean Jackson (21-4) has also impressed of late, winning seven in a row to earn a No. 66 ranking. In doubles play, the duo of Liversage and junior Chris Coetzee is ranked 44th in the latest ITA poll.
San Diego State holds a 12-9 lead in the all-time series dating back to 1989, including a 6-1 victory in the regular-season finale last season at Aztec Tennis Center. Spurred on by a capacity crowd, the Scarlet and Black won a hotly contested doubles point before taking five of six singles matches en route to the victory.
Following its clash with USD, the Aztecs will have nine days off before tackling Harvard in a neutral-site clash on Friday, March 28, in Santa Barbara, Calif.