SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State men's tennis team returned to the Aztec Tennis Center on Thursday. Riding a five-match winning streak, the Aztecs faced off with the Loyola Marymount Lions. After dropping the doubles point, the Aztecs won the first set in five singles matches but could only hold on to win on three courts in a 4-3 defeat.
The Scarlet and Black drop to 7-2 while the Lions improve to 5-3.
In doubles, Chikaya Sato and Johannes Seeman (5-4) returned to the top court, where they played last season. Facing off against Sebastian Nothhaft and Arthur Pantino, the Aztecs came out on top 6-4. With Robin Parts out due to an illness, Alexander Mandma paired up with Bora Sengul (0-1) on court two. The duo took the first three sets from Alex Padro Parra and Toky Ranaivo but were unable to close out their opponent, falling 6-4. On the third court, Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice played with Andre Saleh (0-1) and battled Yassine Smiej and Max Wuefling but were bested by the same score as the Lions clinched the doubles point.
In singles, Seeman (3-4) faced Smiej on the top court. The Aztec trounced the Lion 6-1, 6-0 to get San Diego State on the board.
On court No. 5, Mandma (4-2) played Wuelfing. After taking the first set 6-4, Mandma closed out his opponent by winning 6-2 in the second.
Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (5-2) went up against Ranaivo on court No. 4. He also won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
Facing Pantino on the second court, Sengul (2-3) was competitive in both sets but ended up on the wrong end of a 6-4 score both times.
Holding on to a 3-2 lead, San Diego State needed to win on one of the two remaining courts.
Playing on court six, Liam Spiers (0-1) dueled Alex Padro Parra. The opening set went to a tiebreaker, where Spiers came through in the clutch, winning 7-6 (7-5). He was unable to repeat that success in the following sets, dropping each of them 6-1.
Sato (4-4) competed on the third court against Nothhaft. In an even battle, the Aztec won the first set 6-4 and the Lion won the second by the same score. Sato took the first three games of the deciding set, putting the Aztecs on the brink of winning. Nothhaft came back to take a 4-3 lead before Sato evened things up. Trailing 5-4, Sato won another game to stay alive and equal the score at five. However, he ran out of team, and was bested in the next two games as Nothhaft won the set 7-5 and LMU won the match 4-3.
San Diego State players will be competing in the Pacific Coast Doubles Championships in La Jolla, Calif., this weekend, from March 1-3. The team's next dual match will be on Monday, March 11, against Gonzaga at 2 p.m. at the Aztec Tennis Center.
Loyola Marymount 4, San Diego State 3
Aztec Tennis Center – San Diego, Calif.
February 29, 2024
Singles Competition
1. Johannes Seeman (SDSU) def. Yassine Smiej (LMU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Arthur Pantino (LMU) def. Bora Sengul (SDSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Sebastian Nothhaft (LMU) def. Chikaya Sato (SDSU) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
4. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (SDSU) def. Toky Ranaivo (LMU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Alexander Mandma (SDSU) def. Max Wuelfing (LMU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Alex Padro Parra (LMU) def. Liam Spiers (SDSU) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. Johannes Seeman/Chikaya Sato (SDSU) def. Sebastian Nothhaft/Arthur Pantino (LMU) 6-4
2. Alex Padro Parra/Toky Ranaivo (LMU) def. Alexander Mandma/Bora Sengul (SDSU) 6-4
3. Yassine Smiej/Max Wuelfing (LMU) def. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice/Andre Saleh (SDSU) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,5,2,4,6,3)