Feb. 26, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
Complete Release in PDF Format
Aztecs Travel To Fresno State For Two Matches
The San Diego State men's tennis team will travel to Fresno this week to face the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The Aztecs (4-4) will meet the Bulldogs on Friday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. PT and the Blue Raiders on Saturday, Feb. 28, at noon PT. The Aztecs' most recent match was a 6-1 victory at home against the UC Irvine Anteaters. In the match against the Anteaters, despite dropping the doubles point SDSU, went on to sweep singles action to take the match.
Scouting The Bulldogs
Fresno State is coming of a 5-2 loss to Washington on Feb. 22. With the loss the Bulldogs are 3-2 on the season. Senior Rudolf Siwy is ranked at No. 33 while sophomore teammate, Rikus de Villers, is at No. 112. The only doubles team ranked for the Bulldogs is Siwy and Mirko Zapletal at No. 47. Jay Udwadia is in his fifth year as the head coach of the Bulldogs.
Series History vs. Fresno State
The Aztecs have taken six out of 13 all-time meetings between the two institutions. The most recent match between SDSU and the Bulldogs came last season when San Diego State was able to pick up a 5-2 decision.
Scouting The Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee is coming off a 5-2 loss to No. 38 Virginia Commonwealth on Feb. 22. With the loss, the Blue Raiders drop to 4-3 on the season. No. 66 Middle Tennessee boasts two ranked singles players and one ranked doubles team. Sophomore John Peers is ranked at No. 72, while junior Robert McKenzie is at No. 111. The two ranked players also make up the only doubles team ranked for the Blue Raiders at No. 52.
Series History vs. Middle Tennessee
SDSU has only one win in the three all-time meetings between the two schools. The most recent match between the two schools came in 2004 when San Diego State was able to pick up a 4-3 win.
Aztecs In The Polls
San Diego State is currently ranked 50th in the nation according to the first FILA Collegiate Tennis Rankings released Feb. 24 by the Intercollegiate Collegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
The Aztec Coaches
Gene Carswell is in his 11th season at San Diego State and sixth as head coach of the Scarlet and Black. In his six seasons at the helm, the Aztecs' mentor has compiled an overall record of 76-47 (.628), while guiding SDSU to three straight Mountain West Conference regular-season titles from 2005-2007. During that stretch, the native San Diegan led the Aztecs to a 17-0 league mark en route to earning three consecutive MWC coach of the year accolades. Prior to his present duties, Carswell was an Aztec assistant for five years from 1998-2003, earning a pair of ITA regional assistant coach of the year honors in 2001 and 2003.
2007-08 Review
SDSU finished the 2008 dual-match campaign with a 13-12 overall record and a 1-5 mark in the Mountain West Conference.
Last Time Out With The Aztecs
San Diego State was able to take down the UC Irvine Anteaters in a 6-1 victory on Feb. 19 at the Aztec Tennis Center. The Aztecs dropped the doubles point but was able to rebound and sweep singles action. The victory put SDSU at 4-4 for the season.