April 4, 2008

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The 48th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team opened its 2008 Mountain West Conference slate in convincing fashion on Friday morning with a 7-0 shutout of the Air Force Academy at the Lobo Tennis Club in Albuquerque, N.M. The Aztecs swept doubles competition and lost only eight games in capturing all six singles encounters to raise its record to 12-6 overall and 1-0 in league play. Meanwhile, with the loss, the Falcons drop to 10-12 on the season and 0-4 in the MWC.

For the fifth time this season, SDSU emerged unscathed in doubles as the Scarlet and Black took control of the match from the outset. At the No. 1 position, Bartosz Golas and Juan Gomez won their fifth in a row with an 8-5 triumph over Brett Rodgers and Taylor Soster, while Andre Feliz and Danny Heidecker made it three straight after knocking off Michael Gies and Harrison Maloy by the identical 8-5 count in the No. 3 spot. Over on the No. 2 court, Achim Ceban and Tim Schulz van Endert returned to the win column, recording their 10th victory in 11 starts by disposing of Alex Beaussart and Austin Francis, 8-3.

SDSU was even more dominating in singles action, defeating all six Air Force opponents in straight sets. Heidecker continued his hot play with a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Beaussart at the No. 5 position for the Aztec freshman's seventh consecutive victory. Golas also extended his winning streak to five straight after trouncing Rodgers, 6-0, 6-2, at the top of the ladder. Meanwhile, Feliz posted his team-leading 15th victory by disposing of Gies, 6-1, 6-1, on the sixth court.

In the third slot, Soster proved to be the perfect tonic for Gomez, who ended a three-match slide after pinning a 6-1, 6-1 defeat on his Falcon adversary, while Matan Shitrit also got back on the winning track with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Francis at No. 2. Completing the whitewash for the Scarlet and Black was Ceban, who encountered minimal resistance in a 6-1, 6-0 conquest of Johnny Buckingham at No. 4.

San Diego State continues its first weekend of MWC action on Saturday as it remains in Albuquerque to face Utah beginning at 9:30 a.m. MDT.

No. 48 SAN DIEGO STATE 7, AIR FORCE 0
Lobo Tennis Club
Albuquerque, N.M.

Doubles
1. Bartosz Golas / Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Brett Rodgers / Taylor Soster (AF), 8-5
2. Achim Ceban / Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU) def. Alex Beaussart / Austin Francis (AF), 8-3
3. Andre Feliz / Danny Heidecker (SDSU) def. Michael Gies / Harrison Maloy (AF), 8-5
San Diego State wins doubles point

Singles
1. Bartosz Golas (SDSU) def. Brett Rodgers (AF), 6-0, 6-2
2. Matan Shitrit (SDSU def. Austin Francis (AF), 6-0, 6-0
3. Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Taylor Soster (AF), 6-1, 6-1
4. Achim Ceban (SDSU) def. Johnny Buckingham (AF), 6-1, 6-0
5. Danny Heidecker (SDSU) def. Alex Beaussart (AF), 6-0, 6-1
6. Andre Feliz (SDSU) def. Michael Gies (AF), 6-1, 6-1