SDSU MEN'S TENNIS TOPPLED BY LIBERTY 5-2

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  Rafael Gonzalez Almazan picked up his 13th singles victory of the year vs. Liberty on Wednesday night.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

March 21, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State lost its seventh consecutive dual match Wednesday night after falling to Liberty in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader at Aztec Tennis Center.

Coupled with a 4-2 defeat to visiting Denver earlier in the day, SDSU slips to 2-14 on the year, while the Flames won their second straight, improving to 11-8 on the year.

Five of the six singles encounters were extended to three sets in a grueling match that took over three hours to complete. However, the Aztecs dropped the early doubles point and managed just two victories in singles en route to the frustrating loss.

Rafael Gonzalez Almazan collected his team-leading 13th win of the year in come-from-behind fashion after toppling Alex Poynter in the No. 5 position, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, while Jan Kirchhoff emerged triumphant over Vince Salas in the fourth spot, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

Kirchhoff’s win narrowed the score to 3-2; however, Liberty secured the requisite fourth point shortly thereafter when Chase Burton dispatched the Aztecs’ Ignacio Martinez on the No. 3 court, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-1.

With the outcome no longer in doubt, the remaining dual at No. 6 continued to completion, as the Flames’ Diego Castano outlasted Joel Popov in a marathon battle, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(6).

SDSU was also victimized at the top of the ladder, where Sander Gjoels-Andersen dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Sam Matheson on the No. 1 court, while Arnaud Restifo fell to Eddie Gutierrez in the second slot, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Earlier, the Aztecs found themselves behind the proverbial eight-ball after suffering a pair of losses in doubles. Gonzalez Almazan and Restifo were toppled by the Liberty’s No. 3 tandem of Burton and Matheson, 6-2, before Gjoels-Andersen and Nicholas Mitchell came up just short to Poynter and Castano at No. 1, 6-4.

San Diego State returns to the courts on Friday, March 23 when it plays host to Washington at Aztec Tennis Center. First serve is set for 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Liberty 5, San Diego State 2

March 21, 2018

San Diego, Calif.

Aztec Tennis Center

Doubles

1. Alex Poynter/Diego Castano (LIB) def. Sander Gjoels-Andersen/Nicholas Mitchell (SDSU), 6-4

2. Raul de la Torre/Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU) vs. Eddie Gutierrez/Vince Salas (LIB), 5-4, DNF

3. Chase Burton/Sam Matheson (LIB) def. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan/Arnaud Restifo (SDSU), 6-2

Order of finish: 3, 1

Liberty wins doubles point

Singles

1. Sam Matheson (LIB) def. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU), 6-2, 6-1

2. Eddie Gutierrez (LIB) def. Arnaud Restifo (SDSU), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2

3. Chase Burton (LIB) def. Ignacio Martinez (SDSU), 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-1

4. Jan Kirchhoff (SDSU) def. Vince Salas (LIB), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5

5. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU) def. Alex Poynter (LIB), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

6. Diego Castano (LIB) def. Joel Popov (SDSU), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(6)

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

* Match-clinching victory

Records: SDSU (2-14), Liberty (11-8)