LOS ANGELES – Playing its second straight ranked opponent and third in four duals this season, the San Diego State men's tennis team found itself on the wrong side of a 4-0 score against No. 24 San Diego on Sunday in the consolation match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend's UCLA regional.
With the loss, the Aztecs fall to 1-3 on the year, while the Toreros move to 2-1 overall.
SDSU trailed 1-0 after dropping the first two doubles matches, including a 6-3 setback on the No. 1 court, where Ignacio Martinez and Aaro Pollanen fell short to USD's Joel Gamerov and August Holmgren. Moments earlier, Rafael Gonzalez Almazan and Jan Kirchhoff were unable to provide any answers in a 6-0 blanking by Nico Borter and Marvin Schaber in the No. 2 spot.
With the doubles point no longer in question, Arnaud Restifo and Fabian Roensdorf had their match abandoned against David Norfeldt and Sacchitt Sharrma at No. 3 after forging a 4-4 tie.
The Aztecs looked to regroup in singles but could not gain any traction before ceding three straight decisions. In the No. 2 position, Pollanen was dispatched by Gamerov, 6-2, 6-1, while Restifo experienced a similar fate at No. 5, falling to Borter, 6-4, 6-4.
Shortly thereafter, USD foiled the Scarlet and Black's faint comeback hopes when Schaber dismissed Gonzalez Almazan in the sixth slot by a 6-2, 6-4 count.
Kirchhoff was the lone Aztec to win a set on Sunday, capturing the second stanza against Sharrma by a 6-3 tally after dropping the first 7-5. However, the SDSU junior found himself trailing 2-0 in the third set when his match on the No. 3 court was suspended.
The Aztecs had two other matches halted, including Roensdorf at the top of the ladder, where he was deadlocked with Holmgren in the second set at 5-5 after a dropping a tiebreaker in the opener, 7-6(4).
Likewise, David Hough was eclipsed by Norfeldt in the first set at No. 4, 7-6(6), before falling behind in the second, 2-1.
San Diego State returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 1, when it travels to UC Irvine for another non-conference road match at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
ITA Kickoff Weekend
No. 24 San Diego 4, San Diego State 0
Jan. 26, 2020
Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Tennis Club
Doubles
1. Joel Gamerov/August Holmgren (USD) def. Ignacio Martinez/Aaro Pollanen (SDSU), 6-3
2. Nico Borter/Marvin Schaber (USD) def. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan/Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU), 6-0
3. Arnaud Restifo/Fabian Roensdorf (SDSU) vs. David Norfeldt/Sacchitt Sharrma (USD), 4-4, DNF
Order of finish: 2, 1
USD wins doubles point
Singles
1. August Holmgren (USD) vs. Fabian Roensdorf (SDSU), 7-6(4), 5-5, DNF
2. Joel Gamerov (USD) def. Aaro Pollanen (SDSU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Sacchitt Sharrma (USD) vs. Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU), 7-5, 3-6, 2-0, DNF
4. David Norfeldt (USD) vs. David Hough (SDSU), 7-6(6), 2-1, DNF
5. Nico Borter (USD) def. Arnaud Restifo (SDSU), 6-4, 6-4
6. Marvin Schaber (USD) def. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU), 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 5, 6*
* Match-clinching victory