SDSU MEN'S TENNIS TOPPLES HAWAII 5-2

Three Aztec freshmen victorious in singles play

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo:  Joel Popov was a double winner in his first dual match as an Aztec on Friday. Courtesy goaztecs.com

January 13, 2017 (Honolulu) - The San Diego State men’s tennis opened its 2017 dual-match schedule in style Friday, posting a 5-2 triumph over Hawai’i at UH Tennis Complex. With the victory, the Aztecs (1-0) captured their seventh straight season opener and improved to 12-2 against the Rainbow Warriors (0-1) since 1989.

SDSU broke out of the gates quickly in doubles play, as the tandem of David Hough (Traralgon, Australia) and Joel Popov (Tampere, Finland) dispatched the Hawai’i pairing of Fabian Woehrl and Spencer Travalino by a 6-2 count. Shortly thereafter, the Aztec duo of Marko Goles-Babic (Zagreb, Croatia) and Sander Gjoels-Andersen (Klampenborg, Denmark) clinched the point for the Aztecs with a 6-3 conquest of Felix Albert and Ruben Blattner. SDSU came up short in its quest for a sweep, however, as the duo of Santiago Cevallos (Queretaro, Mexico) and Milen Ianakiev (Elz, Hesse, Germany) dropped a 6-4 decision to Marcel Chan and Igor Kolaric.

Unfazed, the Aztecs went back to work in singles competition, where three freshmen logged their first collegiate dual-match wins. First off the court was Popov, who encountered minimal resistance in a 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Chan in the No. 3 position, while fellow newcomer Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (Madrid, Spain), a mid-season signee, made his debut for SDSU a memorable one with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Woehrl in the fifth spot.  Moments later, Hough disposed of Chris Cajigan by a 6-0, 6-4 tally at No. 6, giving the Aztecs the requisite number of points for the team victory.

SDSU extended its lead to 5-0 when Gjoels-Andersen survived a tight opening set against Blattner before turning on the afterburners with a 7-5, 6-3 decision at No. 4. The final two matches of the day were of the three-set variety as Hawai’i avoided the shutout with a pair of wins atop the ladder. Kolaric held on to beat Ianakiev on the No. 2 court, 6-0, 2-6  6-4, while Albert outlasted Goles-Babic in the No. 1 spot, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

San Diego State will remain in Honolulu on Saturday to battle UC Santa Barbara, beginning at 2 p.m. HT/4 p.m. PT. The Aztecs’ home opener is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 22, against Mississippi State, starting at 11 a.m. PT.

San Diego State 5, Hawai’i 2

UH Tennis Complex

Honolulu, Hawaii

Jan. 13, 2017

Doubles

1. Marko Goles-Babic/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Felix Albert/Ruben Blattner (UH), 6-3

2. Marcel Chan/Igor Kolaric (UH) def. Santiago Cevallos/Milen Ianaklev (SDSU), 6-4

3. Joel Popov/David Hough (SDSU) def. Fabian Woehrl/Spencer Travalino (UH), 6-2

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2

SDSU wins doubles point

Singles

1. Felix Albert (UH) def. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

2. Igor Kolaric (UH) def. Milen Ianaklev (SDSU), 6-0, 2-6, 6-4

3. Joel Popov (SDSU) def. Marcel Chan (UH), 6-1, 6-2

4. Sander Gjoels-Anderson (SDSU) def. Ruben Blattner (UH), 7-5, 6-3

5. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU) def. Fabian Woehrl (UH), 6-2, 6-3

6. David Hough (SDSU) def. Chris Cajigan (UH), 6-0, 6-4*

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

*Match-clinching victory