SDSU MEN'S TENNIS UPENDS BOISE STATE 4-1

Aztecs defeat Broncos in Mountain West opener for both schools

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo: Sander Gjoels-Andersen was a doubles winner.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

March 5, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego State men’s tennis team returned to the win-column Sunday with a 4-1 triumph over Boise State in the Mountain West opener for both squads at Aztec Tennis Center.  The Aztecs (5-5, 1-0 MW) captured a thrilling doubles point, before reeling off three victories in singles play to level their record on the year, while the Broncos (2-13, 0-1 MW dropped their seventh straight.

SDSU got off on the right foot at No. 1 doubles, where the tandem of senior Marko Goles-Babic and sophomore Sander Gjoels-Andersen prevailed by a 6-4 count over Boise State’s Kyle Butters and Jack Heslin. However, the Broncos turned the tables on court No. 3 as the duo of Ryland McDermott and Brian Tran slid past the Aztec freshman combo of Rafael Gonzalez Almazan and Joel Popov by an identical 6-4 tally. The focus quickly turned to a decisive clash on the No. 2 court, where senior Milen Ianakiev and junior Santiago Cevallos outlasted the Broncos’ Pedro Platzeck and Greg Wischer, 7-5.

With momentum on their side, the Aztecs opened with a pair of wins in singles play to build an insurmountable 3-0 lead.

First off the court was Gjoels-Andersen, who dispatched Tran in straight sets at No. 3, 6-4, 6-4, while freshman David Hough soon followed with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph at No. 6 over McDermott in his first action since Jan. 15.

Boise State finally dented the scoreboard when Platzeck got past Cevallos in the fourth spot, 6-2, 7-5. However, Popov provided the clincher moments later with an identical 6-2, 7-5 defeat of Wischer in the fifth position.

With the outcome of Sunday’s dual no longer in doubt, the two remaining encounters at the top of the ladder were abandoned as Goles-Babic and Ianakiev found themselves in a pair of three-set battles.

San Diego State returns to the court next weekend when it travels to Stillwater, Okla., for two non-conference matches vs. Memphis (March 11) and Oklahoma State (March 12).

San Diego State 4, Boise State 1

March 5, 2017

Aztec Tennis Center

San Diego, Calif.

Doubles

1. Marko Goles-Babic/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Kyle Butters/Jack Heslin (BSU), 6-4

2. Santiago Cevallos/Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) def. Pedro Platzeck/Greg Wischer (BSU), 7-5

3. (BSU) def. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan/Joel Popov (SDSU), 6-4

Order of finish: 1, 3, 2

SDSU wins doubles point

Singles

1. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) vs. Kyle Butters (BSU), 3-6, 6-3, 1-1, DNF

2. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) vs. Jack Heslin (BSU), 3-6, 6-3, 1-2, DNF

3. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Brian Tran (BSU), 6-4, 6-4

4. Pedro Platzeck (BSU) def. Santiago Cevallos (SDSU), 6-2, 7-5

5. Joel Popov (SDSU) def. Greg Wischer (BSU), 6-2, 7-5

6. David Hough (SDSU) def. Ryland McDermott (BSU), 6-4, 6-3

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

* - Match-clinching victory