SAN DIEGO – The No. 60-ranked San Diego State women's tennis team wrapped up its regular season on Friday morning with a road match at UNLV. SDSU was looking for a win, which would clinch its first regular season Mountain West title since 2013. The Aztecs fell behind early by losing the doubles point. In singles, the team had to default on a court and could not overcome its early deficit in a 4-3 defeat.
The Scarlet and Black finish the regular season at 13-6 and 7-2 in conference play while the Rebels conclude at 14-7 and 7-3 in Mountain West matches.
In doubles, on court No. 1, Yasmine Kabbaj and Myah Petchey (8-6) played against Zita Kovacs and Hanna Vinahradava. The Aztecs were bested 6-3. Gloria Alogo made her doubles return on the third court with Zoe Olmos (3-9). Facing Salsa Aher and Aura Fang, they came up short 6-4 as the Rebels took the doubles point. Andreea Velcea and Andjela Skrobonja (11-3) paired up on the second court. Facing Cindy Hu and Coco Zhao, the Aztecs led 5-4 when UNLV clinched the doubles point.
UNLV extended its lead to 2-0 as the Aztecs were forced to default on the sixth court.
No. 87-ranked Skrobonja (15-2) matched up with Aher on the second court. Skrobonja got the Aztecs on the board with a 6-3, 6-4 win in straight sets.
On the third court, Petchey (8-6) faced Hu. Petchey forced a tiebreaker in the first set but came up short 7-6 and was dropped 6-2 in the second set as the Rebels took a 3-1 lead.
No. 97-ranked Kabbaj (12-2) battled Kovacs on the top court. The Aztec won 6-4 in the first set and came through in the second set tiebreaker to keep the Aztecs alive.
Velcea (12-4) faced Nikol Mircheva on court No. 4. After Velcea was tripped up 6-2 in the first set, she battled back to win the second 6-3. In the third set, the Aztec triumphed as well in a 6-4 win to even the match at three.
The entire match came down to Olmos (8-8) against Fang on the fifth court. The first set went to a tiebreaker, but it was Fang that emerged victorious 7-6. Olmos was bested in the second set as well, falling 6-3 as the Rebels earned the win.
San Diego State will return to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Championships, running from Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27.
UNLV 4, No. 60 San Diego State 3
Fertitta Tennis Complex – Las Vegas, Nev.
April 19, 2024
Singles Competition
1. No. 97 Yasmine Kabbaj (SDSU) def. Zita Kovacs (UNLV) 6-4, 7-6
2. No. 87 Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU) def. Salsa Aher (UNLV) 6-3, 6-4
3. Cindy Hu (UNLV) def. Myah Petchey (SDSU) 7-6, 6-2
4. Andreea Velcea (SDSU) def. Nikol Mircheva (UNLV) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Aura Fang (UNLV) def. Zoe Olmos (SDSU) 7-6, 6-3
6. Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) def. (SDSU) Default
Doubles Competition
1. Zita Kovacs/Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) def. Myah Petchey/Yasmine Kabbaj (SDSU) 6-3
2. Andjela Skrobonja/Andreea Velcea (SDSU) led Cindy Hu/Coco Zhao (UNLV) 5-4
3. Salsa Aher/Aura Fang (UNLV) def. Gloria Alogo/Zoe Olmos (SDSU) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,2,3,1,4,5)
Aztecs Fall 4-3 at UNLV on Friday
