May 1, 2010
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's tennis team has made a habit out of winning one-point matches. The Aztecs entered Saturday's Mountain West Conference tournament final having won five of their last six matches that were 4-3 finals.
Saturday afternoon, second-seeded San Diego State's fortunes ran out. The Aztecs, playing in their first conference final since 2006 were denied a league record fourth tournament championship, losing to fourth-seeded TCU, 4-3. San Diego State will wait to see if they earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Championships. The NCAA will announce the field on Tuesday.
The loss snapped San Diego State's four-match winning streak and marked the Aztecs second loss in their last 11 outings. SDSU ended the season with a 13-13 record, with seven of the losses coming to teams ranked among the nation's top 35.
Like the regular-season meeting between the teams, a 4-3 San Diego State victory, the match was competitive throughout. The Horned Frogs took the doubles point, followed by the Aztecs winning three of the first four singles matches, before TCU won the final two matches to claim the one-point win.
TCU claimed the doubles point, winning at both the one and three positions. San Diego State struck first, winning at number two when Juan Gomez and Luis Rattenhuber disposed of Sören Goritzka and Cameron Nash, 8-3.
At number one, the Horned Frogs won a matchup of nationally-ranked teams when the duo of Emanuel Brighiu and Christopher Price, ranked 37th nationally, defeated the Aztec pair of Giovanni Vaglietti and Achim Vladimirschii, ranked 87th, 8-4.
The Frogs clinched the point when Paul Chappell and Zach Nichols outlasted Andre Feliz and Tim Schulz van Endert, 8-6. Losing the doubles point, marked the first time San Diego State had lost a point in any match during the MWC championship.
San Diego State drew even early in singles play, getting a straight-set win at number five singles from Schulz van Endert. The junior defeated Goritzka, 6-0, 6-1, for his fifth consecutive victory.
Feliz put the Aztecs on top following a 6-3, 6-2 win over Chappell at number six singles. The Aztec junior has won five straight matches and is unbeaten in five matches at number six singles.
TCU tied the match at two, with Nichols defeating Vladimirschii, 6-3, 6-4. The loss at number two by the Aztec senior snapped a four match winning streak and marked just his second defeat playing number two singles this season.
San Diego State retook the lead when Vaglietti defeated Marius Cirstea at number three singles, 6-2, 6-4.
Brighiu tied the team score at three with a 6-4, 6-4, win over Gomez at number one singles and TCU clinched the championship with Price posting a7-6, 6-2 win over Rattenhuber at number four.
No. 72 TCU 4, No. 55 San Diego State 3
MWC Championship - Championship Match
Fertitta Tennis Complex; Las Vegas, Nev.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
DOUBLES
1. No. 37 Emanuel Brighiu/Christopher Price (TCU) def. No. 87 Giovanni Vaglietti/Achim Vladimirschii (SDSU), 8-4
2. Juan Gomez/Luis Rattenhuber (SDSU) def. Sören Goritzka/Cameron Nash (TCU), 8-3
3. Paul Chappell/Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Andre Feliz/Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU), 8-6
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3*
* - clinched team match
SINGLES
1. Emanuel Brighiu (TCU) def. Juan Gomez (SDSU), 6-4, 6-4
2. Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Achim Vladimirschii (SDSU), 6-3, 6-4
3. Giovanni Vaglietti (SDSU) def. Marius Cirstea (TCU), 6-2, 6-4
4. Christopher Price (TCU) def. Luis Rattenhuber (SDSU), 7-6, 6-2
5. Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU) def. Sören Goritzka (TCU), 6-0, 6-1
6. Andre Feliz (SDSU) vs. Paul Chappell (TCU), 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 2, 3, 1, 4*
* - clinched team match
Team Records: San Diego State: 13-13; TCU: 12-12