March 17, 2016
SAN DIEGO - The No. 75 San Diego State men's tennis team won the most sets against any Aztec opponent ranked among the nation's top eight since 1998 but was unable to seal the deal versus No. 8 Texas Tech on Thursday. The Aztecs fell to the Raiders, 4-3, in the opening day of the Hilton San Diego Mission Valley Spring Classic at Aztec Tennis Center.
SDSU will play No. 26 Memphis on Fri., March 18 at 2 p.m. who, earlier in the day, lost to No. 36 Princeton. The Tigers and Raiders will play for a spot in the tournament's championship match at 10 a.m. on Friday.
"I'm proud of the team," head coach Gene Carswell said. "We battled back in several different situations and to have it come down to a final set against a team that's top eight in the country, it shows that the team is expecting a lot more out of the season from what we've done up to now. Today's performance shows that our guys are putting in some hard work on the practice courts."
In doubles play, Marko Goles-Babic and Freddy Gelbrich lost to No. 44 Alex Sendegeya and Bjorn Thomson, 6-2, but Hendrik Jebens and Sander Gjoels-Andersen were able to secure a 7-6 victory from court No. 3 over Jolan Cailleau and Connor Curry.
In the No. 1 spot, the Aztecs' top doubles pairing this dual season, Milen Ianakiev and Santiago Cevallos, showed their firepower and forced the nation's No. 1-ranked doubles team, Hugo Dojas and Felipe Soares, into a tiebreak. However, the Aztecs ultimately fell to the Raiders' duo, 7-6 (7).
Gelbrich opened singles play by falling to No. 22 Soares from the No. 1 spot. Jebens responded from the neighboring court, however, topping No. 94 Dojas 6-1, 6-2 and securing the Scarlet and Black's first point of the day.
At court No. 4, Goles-Babic dropped his match to Jolan Cailleau 6-3, 6-3. But at No. 6, Cornelius Kolb beat Connor Curry 6-3, 6-2.
Ianakiev, who secured SDSU's win over Arizona on Sat., March 12, followed his teammate's lead and ensured San Diego State wouldn't go down without a fight. The junior fell in his first set to No. 124 Sendegeya, 2-6, but came from behind with 6-4, 6-2 wins for the win on court No. 3.
Gjoels-Andersen was nearly able to clinch the Aztecs' first win over a top eight opponent since 1998 but after a battle, fell to Thomson in the No. 5 spot 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, for the final 4-3 SDSU loss.
No. 8 Texas Tech 4, San Diego State 3
March 17, 2016
Aztec Tennis Center, San Diego, Calif.
Singles
1. No. 22 Felipe Soares (TT) def. No. 100 Freddy Gelbrich (SDSU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Hendrik Jebens (SDSU) def. No. 94 Hugo Dojas (TT) 6-1, 6-2
3. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) def. No. 124 Alex Sendegeya (TT) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Jolan Cailleau (TT) def. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Bjorn Thomson (TT) def. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
6. Cornelius Kolb (SDSU) def. Connor Curry (TT) 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1,2,5,3,6,4
Doubles
1. No. 1 Hugo Dojas/Felipe Soares (TT) def. Santiago Cevallos/Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) 7-6 (7)
2. No. 44 Alex Sendegeya/Bjorn Thomson (TT) def. Marko Goles-Babic/Freddy Gelbrich (SDSU) 6-2
3. Hendrik Jebens/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Jolan Cailleau/Connor Curry (TT) 7-5
Order of Finish: 3,1,2