April 2, 2008

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. - The 48th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team closed out the non-conference portion of its 2008 schedule in style with a 5-2 victory over Hawai'i at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. With a win in its final home dual of the year, the Aztecs improved to 11-6 on the season, while the Warriors fell to 2-10 overall.

For the fourth match in a row and fifth time in its last six starts, SDSU asserted itself in doubles competition, grabbing an early 1-0 lead after taking two of three encounters. Bartosz Golas and Juan Gomez set the table with an 8-5 triumph over Sascha Heinemann and Andreas Weber in the No. 1 position. Hawai'i knotted things up shortly thereafter, however, after Achim Ceban and Tim Schulz van Endert dropped their first decision in 10 outings, falling to Jeff Fitch and Dennis Lajola by an 8-4 count in the No. 2 slot. With the doubles point hanging in the balance, Andre Feliz and Danny Heidecker prevailed by an 8-5 margin over Craig Faulk and Spencer Mendoza on court No. 3 to give the Scarlet and Black the upper hand.

As singles play unfolded, Heidecker kept the pressure on as the Aztec freshman encountered minimal resistance in a 6-0, 6-1 trouncing of Faulk at the No. 4 position. SDSU then increased its lead to 3-0 when Ceban ousted Fitch, 6-4, 6-2, in his first action of the year in the fifth spot. Over on court No. 6, Feliz ended a two-match slide after breezing past Mendoza, 6-1, 6-2 to cement the team victory for the Scarlet and Black.

Hawai'i finally dented the scoreboard when Heinemann, ranked 115th in the latest ITA singles poll, pinned a 6-2, 6-3 defeat on Matan Shitrit in the No. 2 spot. However, Golas responded with his fourth win in a row by knocking off Lajola, 7-5, 6-3, at the top of the ladder to give the Aztecs their fifth tally of the afternoon. The Warriors then provided for the final outcome after No. 107 Weber upended Gomez, 6-2, 7-6(4), in the No. 3 position.

San Diego State returns to action this weekend when it opens Mountain West Conference play, April 4-6, in Albuquerque, N.M. The Aztecs will square off against league rivals Air Force, Utah and New Mexico on three consecutive days at the Lobo Tennis Club on the UNM campus.

No. 48 SAN DIEGO STATE 5, HAWAI'I 2
Fairbanks Ranch Country Club
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Doubles
1. Bartosz Golas / Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Sascha Heinemann / Andreas Weber (UH), 8-5
2. Jeff Fitch / Dennis Lajola (UH) def. Achim Ceban / Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU), 8-4
3. Andre Feliz / Danny Heidecker (SDSU) def. Craig Faulk / Spencer Mendoza (UH), 8-5
San Diego State wins doubles point

Singles
1. Bartosz Golas (SDSU) def. Dennis Lajola (UH), 7-5, 6-3
2. #115 Sascha Heinemann (UH) def. Matan Shitrit (SDSU), 6-2, 6-3
3. #107 Andreas Weber (UH) def. Juan Gomez (SDSU), 6-2, 7-6(4)
4. Danny Heidecker (SDSU) def. Craig Faulk (UH), 6-0, 6-1
5. Achim Ceban (SDSU) def. Jeff Fitch (UH), 6-4, 6-2
6. Andre Feliz (SDSU) def. Spencer Mendoza (UH), 6-1, 6-2

Order of finish
Doubles: 1, 2, 3
Singles: 4, 5, 6*, 2, 1, 3
*match-clinching victory