SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday in a non-conference dual match at Aztec Tennis Center.
With the setback, SDSU slips to 3-7 on the year, while the Quakers improve to 10-4 overall.
The Aztecs started strong in doubles where the tandem of Jules Auffray and Judson Blair registered a 6-4 triumph over Tal Goodman and Zach Smith in the No. 3 position.
However, Penn responded with two victories to escape with the early 1-0 lead. The SDSU pairing of Alexander Mandma and Joe Tyler experience a 6-4 defeat at the hands of Edoardo Graziani and Jason Hildebrandt at the top of the rotation, while Victor Castro and Johannes Seeman were edged out by Harsh Parikh and Kevin Zhu in a tiebreaker on the No. 2 court, 7-6(5).
Seeman exacted a measure of revenge against Zhu with a straight-set victory at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 7-6(4). However, the rest of the Aztec contingent fell short in their respective matches.
The Quakers secured the requisite fourth point after Graziani dispatched Tyler in the No. 1 position, 6-2, 6-4.
Elsewhere, Castro's battle with Hildebrandt was the only encounter extended to a third set, where the Penn adversary prevailed, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.
San Diego State will have little time to dwell on its defeat, as Air Force invades Aztec Tennis Center Sunday morning in the Mountain West opener for both teams, starting at 10 a.m. PDT.
Penn 6, San Diego State 1
March 12, 2022
Aztec Tennis Center—San Diego, Calif.
Doubles
1. Edoardo Graziani/Jason Hildebrandt (Penn) def. Alexander Mandma/Joe Tyler (SDSU) 6-4
2. Harsh Parikh/Kevin Zhu (Penn) def. Victor Castro/Johannes Seeman (SDSU) 7-6(5)
3. Jules Auffray/Judson Blair (SDSU) def. Tal Goodman/Zach Smith (Penn) 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Penn wins doubles point
Singles
1. Edoardo Graziani (Penn) def. Joe Tyler (SDSU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Jason Hildebrandt (Penn) def. Victor Castro (SDSU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
3. Johannes Seeman (SDSU) def. Kevin Zhu (Penn) 6-4, 7-6(4)
4. Harsh Parikh (Penn) def. Alexander Mandma (SDSU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Baylor Sai (Penn) def. Jules Auffray (SDSU) 7-5, 6-4
6. Jonah Jurick (Penn) def. Judson Blair (SDSU) 7-6(3), 4-5, ret.
Order of finish: 4, 5, 1*, 3, 6, 2
* - match-clinching victory