SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men's tennis team faced off against Sacramento State at the Aztec Tennis Center on Friday evening. The Aztecs took the doubles point and won three of four completed singles matches to earn a 4-1 victory over the Hornets.
It was San Diego State's first nighttime match since April 26, 2018, when SDSU defeated No. 3-seed New Mexico 4-2 in the Mountain West Tournament at the Aztec Tennis Center. That match had a 6 p.m. start time and was the third match of the season for the Aztecs that started at 6 p.m.
The Scarlet and Black improve to 2-0 while the Hornets drop to 1-1.
"Good team win for our guys this evening under the lights at the Aztec Tennis Center," Head Coach Gene Carswell said after the victory. "The Sacramento State Hornets are no stranger to the NCAA Tournament. They are a deep team, and my hat is off to our Aztecs for staying strong throughout the match."
In doubles, Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice and Bora Sengul faced Adam Chodur and Hayden Rand on court No. 3. The Aztecs cruised to a 6-2 victory. Chikaya Sato and Johannes Seeman played on the second court against Jan Silva and Jiri Novak. They won 6-4 to clinch the doubles point for SDSU. On the top court, Alexander Mandma and Robin Parts played Mate Voros and Mark Keki. Their match was even at four when the doubles point was clinched.
Playing on court No. 3, Sengul cruised past Voros 6-2, 6-4 to reclaim the lead at 2-1.
After an extremely impressive Aztec debut against Brigham Young, Parts was able to carry over that momentum into Friday's battle with Kaplan on the fifth court. He was consistent in a 6-3, 6-3 win.
Mandma played on court six against Rudolfs Aksenoks. He won the first set 6-3 and the second 6-4 to clinch an Aztec victory.
On the top court, Seeman was bested in straight sets by Keki 6-4, 6-4.
Two matches went unfinished. On the second court, Sato led Silva 6-4, 5-3 and was on the brink of winning when SDSU clinched victory. The other match was on court No. 4. Gonzalez Fitzmaurice led Chodur 6-2, 3-6, 5-2 and was also nearing a victory when the match was completed.
Next up for San Diego State are road matches each of the next two Saturdays. SDSU plays at UC Irvine at noon on January 27, and at Cal Poly at noon on February 3.
San Diego State 4, Sacramento State 1
Aztec Tennis Center – San Diego, Calif.
January 19, 2024
Singles Competition
1. Mark Keki (Sac St.) def. Johannes Seeman (SDSU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Chikaya Sato (SDSU) led Jan Silva (Sac St.) 6-4, 5-3
3. Bora Sengul (SDSU) def. Mate Voros (Sac St.) 6-2, 6-4
4. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (SDSU) led Adam Chodur (Sac St.) 6-2, 3-6, 5-2
5. Robin Parts (SDSU) def. Michael Kaplan (Sac St.) 6-3, 6-3
6. Alexander Mandma (SDSU) def. Rudolfs Aksenoks (Sac St.) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Alexander Mandma/Robin Parts (SDSU) vs. Mate Voros/Mark Keki (Sac St.) 4-4
2. Chikaya Sato/Johannes Seeman (SDSU) def. Jan Silva/Jiri Novak (Sac St.) 6-4
3. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice/Bora Sengul (SDSU) def. Adam Chodur/Hayden Rand (Sac St.) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,3,5,6)