SDSU MEN'S TENNIS EDGED BY NORTHERN ARIZONA 4-3

Aztecs unable to complete rally after dropping doubles point

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 10, 2019 (San Diego) - San Diego State dropped its second straight dual match on Sunday after suffering a 4-3 upset at the hands of visiting Northern Arizona under overcast skies at Aztec Tennis Center.

Despite splitting six singles encounters, SDSU found itself in pursuit mode for much of the day after ceding the doubles point for the fourth time in five outings this spring.

With the defeat, SDSU falls to 2-3 overall, while Lumberjacks even their record at 2-2 on the season.

The Aztec tandem of Sander Gjoels-Andersen and Rafael Gonzalez Almazan posted their third straight victory at No. 1 doubles with a 6-2 triumph over Tim Handel and Ruben Montano.

However, SDSU’s momentum was soon extinguished as the visitors turned the tables on the two adjacent courts. In the No. 2 spot, Jan Kirchhoff and Ignacio Martinez were toppled by the duo of Tom Fisher and Chris Steele, 6-3, while Nicholas Mitchell and Fabian Roensdorf fell short against the pairing of Lucas Taylor and Facundo Tumosa by a 6-4 tally at No. 3.

Later at the outset of singles play, Tumosa extended NAU’s advantage to 2-0 on the team scoreboard thanks to a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Gonzalez Almazan in the fifth slot.

Shortly thereafter, the Aztecs collected their first point of the match when Martinez dispatched Steele in straight sets, 7-6(4), 6-2, at No. 3.

However, the Lumberjacks regained a two-score cushion at 3-1 after Montano outlasted David Hough in the No. 6 position, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

The remaining three matches were also spirited three-set affairs, as Kirchhoff and Gjoels-Andersen lifted the Aztecs back into contention with a pair of victories in the No. 4 and No. 2 spots, respectively. Kirchhoff regrouped after an early stumble to defeat Fisher, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2, while Gjoels-Andersen picked up steam down the stretch against Taylor, winning by a count of 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.

With the score deadlocked at 3-3, all eyes turned to the No. 1 court, where Roensdorf found himself in a tight battle with Handel. After dropping the opening set by a narrow 7-5 margin, the Aztec transfer overcame a 4-1 deficit in the second to claim a grueling tiebreaker 7-6(7). However, Roensdorf had no answers in the third, where his NAU adversary prevailed 6-0.

UP NEXT

San Diego State closes out its six-match homestand on Sunday, Feb. 17 when it plays host to San Francisco starting at noon on the courts of Aztec Tennis Center.

Northern Arizona 4, San Diego State 3

Feb. 10, 2019

San Diego, Calif.

Aztec Tennis Center

Doubles

1. Sander Gjoels-Andersen/Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU) def. Tim Handel/Ruben Montano (NAU), 6-2

2. Tom Fisher/Chris Steele (NAU) def. Jan Kirchhoff/Ignacio Martinez (SDSU), 6-3

3. Lucas Taylor/Facundo Tumosa (NAU) def. Nicholas Mitchell/Fabian Roensdorf (SDSU), 6-4                                      

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

NAU wins doubles point

Singles

1. Tim Handel (NAU) def. Fabian Roensdorf (SDSU), 5-7, 7-6(7), 6-0

2. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Lucas Taylor (NAU), 7-5, 5-7, 6-1

3. Ignacio Martinez (SDSU) def. Chris Steele (NAU), 7-6(4), 6-2

4. Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU) def. Tom Fisher (NAU), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2

5. Facundo Tumosa (NAU) def. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU), 6-2, 6-3

6. Ruben Montano (NAU) def. David Hough (SDSU), 6-2, 3-6, 6-4

Order of finish: 5, 3, 6, 4, 2, 1*

* Match-clinching victory

Records: SDSU (2-3), NAU (2-2)