SAN DIEGO – This week, the San Diego State women's tennis team is back in America's Finest City for the final time this season. The Aztecs are slated to host Colorado State at 2 p.m. PT on Friday, April 12, and Fresno State at noon PT on Sunday, April 14. The team will honor three seniors: Myah Petchey, Andjela Skrobonja and Andreea Velcea prior to its match against the Bulldogs.
No. 60-ranked San Diego State (11-5, 5-1 Mountain West) is the Mountain West's lone ranked team and trails first-place New Mexico by just half a match in the conference standings. The Aztecs hold the tiebreaker over the Lobos thanks to a 4-3 road win last Sunday by a shorthanded SDSU squad that was missing Gloria Alogo and had to default on two courts. In San Diego State's first match of the week, the team shutout Air Force 4-0 while only losing one set. The Aztecs are led by No. 98-ranked Yasmine Kabbaj (11-2), who is the reigning Mountain West Player of the Week, and No. 84 Skrobonja (12-2). Kabbaj has had a strong start to the conference season and holds a perfect 4-0 record in Mountain West play. Meanwhile, Skrobonja has earned a victory in 12 of her last 13 matches. In doubles, Skrobonja and Andreea Velcea, the two returners from last year's Aztec squad, won their ninth consecutive match in Sunday's victory to improve to 9-0 when playing on the second court.
A transfer from Oregon prior to this season, Petchey (7-5) has played on the third singles court for the Aztecs. She began the spring season ranked No. 111 in the nation. In doubles, Petchey has primarily played on the top court with Kabbaj. The pair are 6-4 on that including a perfect 4-0 record in Mountain West matches.
A two-time Mountain West Player of the Week and an All-Mountain West singles selection last season, Skrobonja carried over her excellent play into her second season as an Aztec. In singles, she is ranked 84th and has made it as high as 71 in the rankings. In addition to her 12-2 record this spring, Skrobonja has won two of her three matches against ranked opponents. She has won four of her five Mountain West matches entering the weekend. Her doubles pairing with Velcea is 9-0 on the second court, coinciding with the duo's last nine results.
Velcea (9-4) has excelled in the classroom, bringing home ITA All-Academic Team, Academic All-Mountain West and Mountain West Scholar Athlete honors in 2023. This season, she ranks second on the team with 14 total wins including a team leading. Velcea started off Mountain West play perfectly by winning her first four matches. In doubles, she has had tremendous success playing with Skrobonja.
Colorado State (8-9, 4-3) snapped a three-match losing streak with a 4-1 win over Fresno State on Sunday. The Aztecs' 4-2 win last season improved their record in the all-time series to an impressive 24-1.
Fresno State (8-11, 2-3) opened conference play with wins over Utah State and Air Force but has dropped its last three matches at UNLV, Wyoming and Colorado State. SDSU earned a 4-2 win in last season's matchup to improve to 13-11 in the all-time series.
Both matches will be streamed.
Friday stream: https://tinyurl.com/yt85v2ur.
Sunday stream: https://tinyurl.com/4ucucn63.
San Diego State will conclude its regular season with a match at UNLV at 10 a.m. PT on Friday, April 19. The team will then be back in Las Vegas for the Mountain West Championships, held from April 24-27.
Aztecs Host CSU, Fresno State to Wrap Home Slate
