SAN DIEGO – Despite a closely contested doubles round and a trio of singles matches that were extended to a third set, San Diego State was unable to generate enough momentum on Sunday, as 23rd-ranked Utah claimed a 4-0 victory at Aztec Tennis Center.
With the loss, SDSU slips to 3-6 in dual-match competition, while the Utes improve to 16-0, coupled with another 4-0 blanking later in the afternoon at UC San Diego.
The Aztecs experienced a pair of near misses in doubles play, with two tandems suffering identical 6-4 defeats at the hands of their Utah adversaries. Johannes Seeman and Victor Castro gave Francisco Bastias and Bruno Caula all they could handle before falling short at the No. 2, while Jules Auffray and Judson Blair were dealt a similar fate by Jayson Blando and Mathias Gavelin on the No. 3 court.
With the doubles point no longer in question, SDSU's Alexander Mandma and Joe Tyler had their match in the No. 1 slot abandoned after grabbing a 5-4 lead over Geronimo Espin Busleiman and Franco Capalbo.
Leading 1-0, the Utes captured the first three decisions in singles to secure the requisite four points for the team victory.
Earning a start in the No. 5 position, Roni Rikkonen was upended by Gavelin in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, while Seeman fell victim to Bastias on the No. 2 court, 6-2, 6-2. Shortly thereafter, Bruno Krenn supplied the clincher for the visitors with a three-set triumph over Blair in the sixth spot, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
The three remaining encounters were suspended at this juncture, including two in the third set. On the fourth court, Mandma found himself tied with Caula 1-1 in the third set after the adversaries split the first two by identical 6-1 scores.
At the top of the ladder, Tyler emerged triumphant in the opening set against Capalbo, 6-2, but his Ute opponent battled back in the second, 6-3, before taking a 1-0 lead in the third.
Over at No. 3, Castro dropped a marathon tiebreaker in the opening set against Espin Busleiman, 7-6(9), before falling behind in the second, 3-2.
San Diego State continues its lengthy homestand this weekend with a pair of matches against Penn (March 12) and Air Force (March 13), the latter of which opens Mountain West play for the Scarlet and Black.
No. 23 Utah 4, San Diego State 0
March 6, 2022
Aztec Tennis Center—San Diego, Calif.
Doubles
1. Alexander Mandma/Joe Tyler (SDSU) vs. Geronimo Espin Busleiman/Franco Capalbo (UU) 5-4 DNF
2. Francisco Bastias/Bruno Caula (UU) def. Victor Castro/Johannes Seeman (SDSU) 6-4
3. Jayson Blando/Mathias Gavelin (UU) def. Jules Auffray/Judson Blair (SDSU) 6-4
Order of finish: 2. 3
Utah wins doubles point
Singles
1. Franco Capalbo (UU) vs. Joe Tyler (SDSU) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 DNF
2. Francisco Bastias (UU) def. Johannes Seeman (SDSU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Geronimo Espin Busleiman (UU) vs. Victor Castro (SDSU) 7-6(9), 3-2 DNF
4. Alexander Mandma (SDSU) vs. Bruno Caula (UU) 6-1, 1-6, 1-1 DNF
5. Mathias Gavelin (UU) def. Roni Rikkonen (SDSU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Bruno Krenn (UU) def. Judson Blair (SDSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Order of finish: 5, 2, 6*
*- match-clinching victory