USAF ACADEMY, COLO. – The San Diego State men's tennis played its regular season finale at Air Force on Saturday, April 22. Trailing the Falcons by just one match in the conference standings, today's competition provided SDSU with a chance to leapfrog Air Force and take the sixth seed in this week's Mountain West Championships. The Aztecs capitalized on the opportunity, taking the doubles point and winning three singles matches to earn a 4-2 victory.
The Scarlet and Black improve to 3-14 overall and 1-5 in Mountain West competition this season, while the Falcons fall to 12-10 overall with a 1-5 record in conference play.
"Another good group effort from our Aztecs against a team that's tough to beat on their home court," said Head Coach Gene Carswell following the victory. "We look forward to accomplishing a few more of our goals as we head into the Mountain West Championships."
In doubles, the top San Diego State team of Johannes Seeman and Chikaya Sato took down Jonathan Mascagni and Arjun Kersten in a 6-2 win. Alexander Mandma and Bora Sengul went up against Justin Waldman and Nick Vroman on court No. 2 and earned a 6-4 victory to clinch the doubles point. On the third court, Andre Saleh and Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice led Phillip Deaton and Kyle Garner 6-5 when SDSU took the doubles point.
On the third court, Sengul (2-10) faced Waldman. Sengul was consistent in a 6-3, 6-3 win to even the score at two.
Mandma (5-6) played on the No. 4 court against Vroman. He took the first set 6-2 but the second was more competitive. It wasn't until the tiebreaker was even at ten that Mandma was able to clinch victory by winning two straight points 7-6 (12-10) to give the Aztecs a 3-2 lead.
Reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Week Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (5-7) played on the No. 5 court versus Jack Brown. With San Diego State up 3-2, a win would clinch a team victory and the sixth seed. Like his teammate Sengul, Gonzalez Fitzmaurice won 6-3, 6-3. He has now won four consecutive singles matches heading into the conference tournament.
On the top court, Seeman (5-9) battled Kersten and made it interesting late but fell in straight sets 6-2, 7-5.
On the second court, Sato (5-10) drew Deaton but was unable to get much going as he was bested 6-3, 6-3.
Saleh (1-7) played Mascagni on the sixth court. The first set was close, but the Falcon took it in the tiebreaker 7-6 (7-2). Mascagni led 2-0 in the second when Gonzalez Fitzmaurice clinched an SDSU victory.
Sixth seeded San Diego State will take on the third seed, No. 67 Boise State, in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Championships at 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday, April 26, in Las Vegas.
San Diego State 4, Air Force 2
Tennis Courts – USAF Academy, Colo.
April 22, 2023
Singles Competition
1. Arjun Kersten (AFA) def. Johannes Seeman (SDSU) 6-2, 7-5
2. Phillip Deaton (AFA) def. Chikaya Sato (SDSU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Bora Sengul (SDSU) def. Justin Waldman (AFA) 6-3, 6-3
4. Alexander Mandma (SDSU) def. Nick Vroman (AFA) 6-2, 7-6 (12-10)
5. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (SDSU) def. Jack Brown (AFA) 6-3, 6-3
6. Jonathan Mascagni (AFA) led Andre Saleh (SDSU) 7-6 (7-2), 2-0
Doubles Competition
1. Johannes Seeman/Chikaya Sato (SDSU) def. Jonathan Mascagni/Arjun Kersten (AFA) 6-2
2. Alexander Mandma/Bora Sengul (SDSU) def. Justin Waldman/Nick Vroman (AFA) 6-4
3. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice/Andre Saleh (SDSU) led Phillip Deaton/Kyle Garner (AFA) 6-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,5)