LOS ANGELES – Looking to win back-to-back matches for the first time this year, the visiting San Diego State men's tennis team found itself on the wrong side of a 6-1 score at Loyola Marymount in a non-conference clash Saturday on the courts of LMU Tennis Center.
With the loss, the Aztecs slip to 2-4 overall, while the Lions improve to 3-1 on the season.
The teams traded punches in doubles play, with Rafael Gonzalez Almazan and Jan Kirchhoff combining for a 6-1 triumph over Ryan Brown and Max Kaiser in the No. 3 position after Arnaud Restifo and Fabian Roensdorf were upended by Keenan Mayo and Emin Torlic by a 6-2 tally in the second slot.
All eyes then turned to the No. 1 court, where SDSU's Ignacio Martinez and Aaro Pollanen were locked in a tight match with Diego Nava and Thien Nguyen. However, the Aztec duo was unable to provide the clincher, as their Lion adversaries escaped with a 6-4 decision.
Stung, the Scarlet and Black could not rebound in singles competition, dropping five of six encounters.
LMU captured the first three matches, all at the top of the ladder, dashing any hopes of an Aztec comeback. First off the court was Roensdorf, who fell victim to Mayo in the No. 1 slot, 6-3, 6-0, while Kirchhoff experienced a nearly identical fate in a 6-3, 6-1 setback to Nava in the second position.
Moments later, Moreno pinned a 6-4, 6-1 defeat on Pollanen, giving the host school the requisite four points for the team victory.
With the outcome no longer in doubt, the three remaining matches went through to completion.
LMU increased its lead to 5-0 after David Hough was dispatched by Kaiser, 7-5, 6-0 on the No. 4 court. However, SDSU managed to avoid the shutout when Restifo emerged with a 6-3, 6-4 conquest of Austin Di Guilio in the fifth spot. Shortly thereafter, the Lions' Nguyen slipped past Martinez, 7-6(8), 6-4, to account for final margin.
San Diego State will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 21, when it travels to the Bay Area to face No. 8 Stanford. Match time is set for 3 p.m. PT.
Loyola Marymount 6, San Diego State 1
Feb. 8, 2020
Los Angeles, Calif.
LMU Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Diego Nava/Thien Nguyen (LMU) def. Ignacio Martinez/Aaro Pollanen (SDSU), 6-4
2. Keenan Mayo/Emin Torlic (LMU) def. Arnaud Restifo/Fabian Roensdorf (SDSU), 6-2
3. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan/Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU) def. Ryan Brown/Max Kaiser (LMU), 6-1
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
LMU wins doubles point
Singles
1. Keenan Mayo (LMU) def.Fabian Roensdorf (SDSU), 6-3, 6-0
2. Diego Nava (LMU) def. Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU), 6-3, 6-1
3. Lucas Moreno (LMU) def. Aaro Pollanen (SDSU), 6-4, 6-1
4. Max Kaiser (LMU) def. David Hough (SDSU), 7-5, 6-0
5. Arnaud Restifo (SDSU) def. Austin Di Guilio (LMU), 6-3, 6-4
6. Thien Nguyen (LMU) def. Ignacio Martinez (SDSU), 7-6(8), 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3,* 4, 5, 6
* Match-clinching victory