ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – San Diego State men’s tennis hit the road this week, first facing New Mexico on Friday. After dropping the doubles point, the Aztecs were only able to capture four sets in a 4-0 defeat.
The Aztecs fall to 8-11 on the season and 1-3 in the Mountain West while the Lobos improve to 11-7 overall and 2-1 in the league.
New Mexico took an early advantage, securing the doubles point with wins on courts one and two. Denis Maijorov and Alexander Mandma were bested 6-0 by Aram Noroozian and Georgio Samaha on the top court before Marc Kleber and Liam Spiers fell 6-1 to Daniil Kakhniuk and Nicolas Recoura on court two. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice and Mathieu Josserand’s court three matchup against Aditya Balsekar and Avery Tallakson was left unfinished with the Lobos leading 4-2.
Philipp Bosse came up short 6-4, 6-2 to Dario Ciobotaru on court three while Mandma fell 6-1, 6-4 to Balsekar in the second spot to extend New Mexico’s lead.
The Lobos clinched the match on the bottom court where Maijorov was bested by Tallakson. Despite claiming the first set 6-4, the freshman was unable to carry the momentum, falling 6-3, 6-2 in the second and third sets.
Gonzalez Fitzmaurice was tied with Noroozian at one set apiece on the top court when the match was called. The Aztec dropped the first set 6-3, but picked up a 6-4 win in the second.
Seniors Josserand and Spiers also claimed a set in their respective matches. Josserand fell 6-2 in the first, but rallied to a 6-2 win in the second. Samaha led 4-3 in the third set when the match was clinched. Spiers took his first set 7-5 over Kakhniuk, but came up short 6-2 in the second and was at a 2-1 disadvantage in the third.
The Aztecs return to action on Sunday, facing Air Force on the road at 9 a.m.
Doubles
1. Aram Noroozian/Georgio Samaha (NM) def. Denis Maijorov/Alexander Mandma (SDSU) 6-0
2. Daniil Kakhniuk/Nicolas Recoura (NM) def. Marc Kleber/Liam Spiers (SDSU) 6-1
3. Aditya Balsekar/Avery Tallakson (NM) vs. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice/Mathieu Josserand (SDSU) DNF 4-2
Singles
1. Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (SDSU) vs. Aram Noroozian (NM) DNF 3-6, 6-4
2. Aditya Balsekar (NM) def. Alexander Mandma (SDSU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Dario Ciobotaru (NM) def. Philipp Bosse (SDSU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Georgio Samaha (NM) vs. Mathieu Josserand (SDSU) DNF 6-2, 2-6, 4-3
5. Daniil Kakhniuk (NM) vs. Liam Spiers (SDSU) DNF 5-7, 6-2, 2-1
6. Avery Tallakson (NM) def. Denis Maijorov (SDSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,2,6)