SAN DIEGO – Playing its final nonconference match of the season, the San Diego State men's tennis team hosted Portland at the Aztec Tennis Center on Friday. The Aztecs claimed an early lead by winning the doubles point before winning on four of six singles courts in a 5-2 victory.
The Scarlet and Black improve to 11-3 and drop the Pilots to 6-4.
"It was a solid team effort today against the University of Portland," Aztecs head coach Gene Carswell stated following the victory. "The game ball goes to the top end of the singles lineup where Johannes Seeman and Bora Sengul secured efficient wins to lock down the victory."
In doubles, Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice played with Johannes Seeman (3-0) on the second court and battled Nicolas Ocana and Nikola Keremedchiev. The Aztecs coasted to a 6-2 win to remain unbeaten. Chikaya Sato and Bora Sengul (2-1) faced off against Stefan Skobelev and Oscar Brown on the third court. The Aztecs came through with a 6-4 victory to clinch the doubles point. Robin Parts played with Alexander Mandma (7-0) on the top court. Facing Luka Vukovic and Nikolas Tvedt, the match was even at five when the Aztecs clinched the doubles point.
In singles, Seeman (4-7) faced Brown on the top court. Seeman earned a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win.
On the fourth court, Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (8-2) battled Maxim Groysman. He emerged victorious from the first set 6-4 and coasted to a 6-1 win in the second.
Facing Ocana on the second court, Sengul (4-4) was consistent as he won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 and clinched an Aztec victory.
Parts (9-0) faced Keremedchiev on the fifth court. Parts won 6-3 in the first set but was bested 6-4 in the second. The deciding tiebreaker was close, but the Aztec did just enough in a 10-8 win.
In his match, Sato (4-7) went up against Vukovic on court No. 4. He was dropped in straight sets 6-2, 7-5.
Playing on the bottom court, Liam Spiers (0-2) entered the lineup with Mandma not playing singles. In his match against Fabian Gusic, Spiers was tripped up 6-2 in the first set. He battled to stay alive in the second and forced a tiebreaker, but it was not enough in a 7-6 (7-1) defeat.
San Diego State begins Mountain West play next weekend with a pair of road matches. The Aztecs face Boise State at 1 p.m. MT/12 p.m. PT on Friday, March 29, and Nevada at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 31.
San Diego State 5, Portland 2
Aztec Tennis Center – San Diego, Calif.
March 22, 2024
Singles Competition
1. Johannes Seeman (SDSU) def. Oscar Brown (UP) 6-2, 6-2
2. Bora Sengul (SDSU) def. Nicolas Ocana (UP) 6-3, 6-3
3. Luka Vukovic (UP) def. Chikaya Sato (SDSU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (SDSU) def. Maxim Groysman (UP) 6-4, 6-1
5. Robin Parts (SDSU) def. Nikola Keremedchiev (UP) 6-3, 4-6, 10-8
6. Fabian Gusic (UP) def. Liam Spiers (SDSU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
Doubles Competition
1. Alexander Mandma/Robin Parts (SDSU) vs. Luka Vukovic/Nikolas Tvedt (UP) 5-5
2. Johannes Seeman/Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (SDSU) def. Nicolas Ocana/Nikola Keremedchiev (UP) 6-2
3. Chikaya Sato/Bora Sengul (SDSU) def. Stefan Skobelev/Oscar Brown (UP) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (1,4,3,2,6,5)