April 6, 2008

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M - The 48th-ranked San Diego State men's tennis team found itself on the wrong end of the scoreboard for the second day in a row after dropping a 5-2 decision to No. 54 New Mexico on Sunday in a Mountain West Conference dual at the Lobo Tennis Club. Despite grabbing the early doubles point, the Aztecs (12-8, 1-2 MWC) were unable to carry that momentum into singles competition as UNM (16-6, 3-0 MWC) took five of six matches to earn the victory.

After Achim Ceban and Tim Schulz van Endert fell to the brotherly combo of Chris Parkes and Johnny Parkes, 8-3, at the No. 2 position, SDSU responded with two straight wins to take a 1-0 lead. Bartosz Golas and Juan Gomez emerged triumphant for the eighth time in their last 10 outings with an 8-6 squeaker over Max Jones and Kamil Pajkowski at the top of the order, while Andre Feliz and Matan Shitrit disposed of Graeme Kassautzki and Joe Wood, 8-3, to secure the point in the No. 3 spot.

Unfortunately for the Scarlet and Black, things went south in singles play as the Lobos roared back with three consecutive straight-set victories to take control of the match. Jones, ranked 41st in the latest ITA singles poll, overpowered Shitrit, 6-0, 6-0, on the No. 1 court, while Ceban was dealt a 6-0, 7-5 defeat at the hands of Kassautzki in the No. 3 position. Feliz then suffered a 6-4, 7-5 setback to Pajkowski at No. 5, giving New Mexico a commanding 3-1 advantage.

Gomez provided the visitors a glimmer of hope after capturing the opening set against Miles Bugby in the fourth spot. However, any designs of an SDSU comeback were soon dashed as the Aztec sophomore ultimately succumbed, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, clinching the match for the Lobos. Golas ended the scoring drought for the Scarlet and Black, overcoming an early deficit to knock off Johnny Parkes, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5, in a hard-fought battle at No. 2. The final dual of the day featured another tight three-set affair, but Schulz van Endert was unable to close out Wood, who eventually prevailed, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the sixth position.

San Diego State resumes MWC action on Thursday, April 10, when it travels to Provo, Utah, to face Brigham Young beginning at 1:30 p.m. MDT.

No. 54 NEW MEXICO 5, No. 48 SAN DIEGO STATE 2
Lobo Tennis Club
Albuquerque, N.M.

Doubles
1. Bartosz Golas / Juan Gomez (SDSU) def. Max Jones / Kamil Pajkowski (NM), 8-6
2. Chris Parkes / Johnny Parkes (NM) def. Achim Ceban / Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU), 8-3
3. Andre Feliz / Matan Shitrit (SDSU) def. Graeme Kassautzki / Joe Wood (NM), 8-3
San Diego State wins doubles point

Singles
1. #41 Max Jones (NM) def. Matan Shitrit (SDSU), 6-0, 6-0
2. Bartosz Golas (SDSU) def. Johnny Parkes (NM), 5-7, 7-5, 7-5
3. Graeme Kassautzki (NM) def. Achim Ceban (SDSU), 6-0, 7-5
4. Miles Bugby (NM) def. Juan Gomez (SDSU), 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
5. Kamil Pajkowski (NM) def. Andre Feliz (SDSU), 6-4, 7-5
6. Joe Wood (NM) def. Tim Schulz van Endert (SDSU), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3

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