April 27, 2016
LAS VEGAS - San Diego State men's tennis ended its regular season with a flourish, winning five tiebreaks to beat No. 64 New Mexico in a neutral site contest at UNLV's Fertitta Tennis Complex on Wednesday. The win was SDSU's fourth over a nationally ranked opponent this season.
The Aztecs finish the regular season with a 5-2 mark in conference play and a 10-13 overall record. New Mexico is 15-15 and ends 2016 with a 2-5 record against Mountain West opponents.
San Diego State fell behind early, narrowly dropping the doubles point. Hayden Sabatka and Bart Van Leijsen topped Santiago Cevallos and Milen Ianakiev in the top spot. On court No. 3, however, Marko Goles-Babic and Freddy Gelbrich were able to defeat Michael Tran and Rodolfo Jauregui, 6-3. But Hendrik Jebens and Sander Gjoels-Andersen fell in a 7-6 (7) juggernaut, allowing the Lobos to secure the point.
In singles play, Jebens evened the score with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Sabatka in the No. 2 spot, but Van Leijsen defeated Gelbrich 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2) in the top spot to regain New Mexico's lead.
Raul de la Torre was able to come from behind on court No. 6 to beat Tran 0-6, 6-2, 6-4, though Hernandez-Tong topped Ianakiev 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3 at No. 3.
In the No. 4 spot, Gjoels-Andersen overcame Escutia 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3 to knot the score a 3-3.
But it was Goles-Babic in a marathon match on court No. 5 against Jauregui that secured the victory for the Aztecs. The junior fell behind in his first set, 2-6, then came back with a 6-3 second-set win. In the third set, he edged out Jauregui with a 7-6 (10) win for SDSU's fifth conference win of the season.
San Diego State opens the 2016 Mountain West Men's Tennis Championship on Fri., April 29. The championship bracket, which is hosted by UNLV, will be released later this evening.
San Diego State 4, No. 64 New Mexico 3
April 27, 2016
Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas, Nev.
Doubles
1. Hayden Sabatka/Bart Van Leijsen (UNM) def. Santiago Cevallos/Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) 6-3
2. Ricky Hernandez-Tong/Jorge Escutia (UNM) def. Hendrik Jebens/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) 7-6 (7)
3. Marko Goles-Babic/Freddy Gelbrich (SDSU) def. Michael Tran/Rodolfo Jauregui (UNM) 6-3
Order of Finish - 1, 3, 2
Singles
1. Bret Van Leijsen (UNM) def. Freddy Gelbrich (SDSU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2)
2. Hendrik Jebens (SDSU) def. Hayden Sabatka (UNM) 6-4, 6-1
3. Ricky Hernandez-Tong (UNM) def. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3
4. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Jorge Escutia (UNM) 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3
5. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) def. Rodolfo Jauregui (UNM) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10)
6. Raul de la Torre (SDSU) def. Michael Tran (UNM) 0-6, 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish - 2, 1, 6, 3, 4, 5