SDSU MEN'S TENNIS DOWN SAINT MARY'S 6-1

Aztecs post five singles victories to help even season record at 4-4

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo:  Sander Gjoels-Andersen was a double winner in the Aztecs' 6-1 triumph over Saint Mary's on Friday.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

February 24, 2017 (San Diego) - After a 12-day hiatus, the San Diego State men’s tennis team showed no rust on Friday, posting an impressive 6-1 victory over Saint Mary’s in a non-conference dual match at Aztec Tennis Center. With the win, SDSU evens its record at 4-4 on the year, while the Gaels drop to 3-4 overall.

For the fourth time in their last five outings, the Aztecs captured the doubles round, with the freshman tandem of Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (Madrid, Spain) and Joel Popov (Tampere, Finland) securing the point after dispatching the SMC duo of Matis Bot and Manuel De Luis Lamelas, 6-1, in the third position. Moments earlier, senior Marko Goles-Babic (Zagreb, Croatia) and Sander Gjoels-Andersen (Klampenborg, Denmark) were victorious over Nash Vollenweider and Damon Kesaris by a 6-3 count at center court. Meanwhile, the pairing of Santiago Cevallos (Queretaro, Mexico) and Milen Ianakiev (Elz, Hesse, Germany) were knotted a 4-4 in their encounter with the Gaels Calvin Jordaan and Brian Lee in the No. 2 before the match was abandoned.

SDSU kept things rolling in singles play, notching five victories, all in straight sets. First off the court was Gjoels-Andersen, who snapped a personal six-match losing streak with a 6-1, 6-3 conquest of Jordaan in the No. 3 position. Popov soon followed with a 6-4, 6-0 triumph over Bot at No. 5, while Ianakiev got past Vollenweider in the No. 1 spot by  a 6-3, 6-4 tally.

Shortly thereafter, Gonzalez Almazan pinned a 6-4, 6-4 defeat on Lee at No. 6, while Cevallos outlasted De Luis Lamelas in a nail-biter, 7-5, 7-6(2), on court No. 4. The Gaels lone win of the day came at No. 2, where Goles-Babic dropped a tough three-set affair to Kesaris, 6-2, 4-6, 10-8/

San Diego State returns to the courts on Thursday, March 2, when it plays host to No. 12 Pepperdine at Aztec Tennis Center. Match time is set for 2 p.m. PT.

San Diego State 6, Saint Mary’s 1

Feb. 24, 2017

Aztec Tennis Center

San Diego, Calif.

Doubles

1. Marko Goles-Babic/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Nash Vollenweider/Damon Kesaris (SMC), 6-3

2. Santiago Cevallos/Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) vs. Calvin Jordaan/Brian Lee (SMC), 4-4 DNF

3. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan/Joel Popov (SDSU) def. Matis Bot/Manuel De Luis Lamelas (SMC), 6-1

Order of finish: 1, 3

SDSU wins doubles point

Singles

1. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) def. Nash Vollenweider (SMC), 6-3, 6-4

2. Damon Kesaris (SMC) def. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU), 6-2, 4-6, 10-8

3. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Calvin Jordaan (SMC), 6-1, 6-3

4. Santiago Cevallos (SDSU) def. Manuel De Luis Lamelas (SMC), 7-5, 7-6 (2)

5. Joel Popov (SDSU) def. Matis Bot (SMC), 6-4, 6-0

6. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU) def. Brian Lee (SMC), 6-4, 6-4

Order of finish: 3, 5, 1*, 6, 2, 4

* - Match-clinching victory