Feb. 20, 2016
SAN DIEGO - The No. 38 San Diego State men's tennis team dropped its 2016 debut at the Aztec Tennis Center against No. 42 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday afternoon, 5-2.
The Aztecs' record falls to 3-4, while the Gauchos move to 6-3.
"We had missed opportunities all over the board," head coach Gene Carswell said. "The match as a whole was a big disappointment. We have to play more complete matches. The ranked teams are all good and if you're not ready to compete and play, you won't get it done."
The doubles point was awarded to the Aztecs after strong play by its top doubles pairing and a new duo.
Winning their third straight match, Milen Ianakiev and Santiago Cevallos topped Nicolas Moreno de Alboran and Chase Masciorini, 6-2. Competing for the first time together, Hendrik Jebens and Sander Gjoels-Andersen beat Anders Holm and Andrew Riminton, 6-4.
In singles play, Marko Goles-Babic started things off on the right foot for the Aztecs, topping Cody Rakela 6-2, 6-4. It was the junior's first match back since SDSU's match against UC Riverside on Jan. 17 following an injury.
"To have Marko be victorious was great," Carswell said. "He's such a fighter and a competitor. He plays with the determination we expect out of our guys."
But San Diego State was unable to maintain momentum. Jebens lost to 83rd-ranked Moreno 4-6, 4-6. Ianakiev dropped his match to Morgan Mays, 4-6, 3-6. Jonas Meinzer succumbed to Teague Hamilton, 4-6, 6-7 (2). After losing his first set, 2-6, Andersen was nearly able to pull out a victory, taking the second set by the same 6-2 margin. But he dropped his third set, 2-6. No. 69 Freddy Gelbrich also lost a close match, 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, to Nathan Eshmade.
Next up, San Diego State visits its crosstown rivals, USD, on Sat., Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.
San Diego State 2, UCSB 5
February 20, 2016
Aztec Tennis Center, San Diego, Calif.
Singles
1. Nathan Eshmade (UCSB) def. Freddy Gelbrich (SDSU) 6-3, 4-6, 2-6
2. Nicolas Moreno de Alboran (UCSB) def. Hendrik Jebens (SDSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Morgan Mays (UCSB) def. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) def. Cody Rakela (UCSB) 6-3, 6-4
5. Anders Holm (UCSB) def. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
6. Teague Hamilton (UCSB) def. Jonas Meinzer (SDSU) 6-4, 7-6 (2)
Order of Finish: 4,2,3,6,5,1
Doubles
1. Nathan Eshmade/Miles Seemann (UCSB) vs. Freddy Gelbrich/Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) 4-5, unfinished
2. Milen Ianakiev/Santiago Cevallos (SDSU) def. Nicolas Moreno de Alboran/Chase Masciorini (UCSB) 6-1
3. Hendrik Jebens/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Anders Holm/Andrew Riminton (UCSB) 7-6
Order of Finish: 2,3