SDSU MEN'S TENNIS WINS THRILLER VS. UC IRVINE 4-3

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Senior Marko Goles-Babic wins No. 2 singles in three sets for Aztecs’ clinching win

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo:  Marko Goles-Babic courtesy goaztecs.com

February 11, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego State men’s tennis team won its second straight dual match Saturday with a dramatic 4-3 victory over UC Irvine at Aztec Tennis Center.  Senior Marko Goles-Babic (Zagreb, Croatia) provided the clinching point with a tough three-set victory at No. 2 singles to help SDSU even its record at 3-3 on the year, while the Anteaters slip to 1-4 overall with the loss.

Goles-Babic was also triumphant in doubles competition, teaming with sophomore Sander Gjoels-Andersen (Klampenborg, Denmark) to dismiss the UCI pairing of Sebastian Heim and Mason Hansen by a 6-2 tally in the No. 1 spot.

In addition, the Aztec combo of freshmen Joel Popov (Tampere, Finland) and Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (Madrid, Spain) found similar success in the No. 3 position with a 6-3 conquest of Vatsal Bajpai and Bruce Man-Son-Hing. Over on court No. 2, the SDSU duo of senior Milen Ianakiev (Elz, Hesse, Germany) and junior Santiago Cevallos (Queretaro, Mexico) were poised to finish their encounter against Luis Lopez and Luca Marquard after grabbing a 5-3 lead. However, the match was abandoned after the two sides were deadlocked at deuce, preventing an Aztec sweep.

Despite the lack of result, the Aztecs were still able to claim their third straight doubles point heading into a grueling singles round, with the Scarlet and Black capturing two of the first three matches.

First off the court was Popov, who won his second straight after pinning a 6-2, 6-2 defeat on Hansen at No. 5, while Gjoels-Andersen experienced the opposite fate, falling to Lopez in the third position, 6-2, 6-3. Shortly thereafter, Cevallos emerged with his second consecutive decision with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Bajpai in the fourth spot, which gave the Aztecs a seeming comfortable 3-1 advantage on the team scoreboard.

However, the Anteaters fought back with victories in the next two matches to tie the score. At center court, Ianakiev found himself in a fierce battle with Heim, who entered the week ranked 95th by the ITA, before falling in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Over on the No. 6 court, sophomore Raul de la Torre (Calexico, Calif.) saw his first action in dual-match play, but was unable to get past Man-Son-Hing, as the UCI adversary prevailed by a 6-4, 7-5 count.

With the score deadlocked at 3-3, all eyes turned to the No. 2 court, where Goles-Babic knocked off Marquard in another exhausting affair, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, much to the delight of his Aztec teammates, who erupted in jubilation after the clinching point was secured.

San Diego State looks to keep the momentum rolling on Sunday when it locks horns with UC Davis in the first-ever meeting between the two programs at Aztec Tennis Center. First serve is set for 11 a.m. PT.

San Diego State 4, UC Irvine 3

Aztec Tennis Center

San Diego, Calif.

Feb. 11, 2017

Doubles

1. Marko Goles-Babic/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Sebastian Heim/Mason Hansen (UCI), 6-2

2. Santiago Cevallos/Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) vs. Luis Lopez/Luca Marquard (UCI), 5-3, DNF

3. Joel Popov/Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU) def. Vatsal Bajpai/Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI), 6-3

Order of finish:  1, 3

SDSU wins doubles point

Singles

1. No. 95 Sebastian Heim (UCI) def. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3

2. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) def. Luca Marquard (UCI) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5

3. Luis Lopez (UCI) def. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) 6-2, 6-3

4. Santiago Cevallos (SDSU) def. Vatsal Bajpai (UCI) 6-2, 6-4

5. Joel Popov (SDSU) def. Mason Hansen (UCI) 6-2, 6-2

6. Bruce Man-Son-Hing (UCI) def. Raul de la Torre (SDSU) 6-4, 7-5

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

* - Match-clinching victory


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