April 26, 2000
A POSTSEASON OPENER
* The San Diego State women's tennis team opens what it hopes is a successful postseason run this week when the Aztecs travel to Las Vegas, Nev., for the 2000 Mountain West Conference Women's Tennis Championship, April 27-29.
* The three-day event, hosted by UNLV, kicks off with first-round action on Thursday, April 27. All eight MWC teams will be in action with first-round match times scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
AZTECS EARN TOP SEED
* After compiling a 13-8 record, including a 2-1 mark in Mountain West Conference play, SDSU received the No. 1 seed in a vote of the league's coaches. The Aztecs open the three-day tournament against No. 8 seed Air Force at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) on Thursday.
TOURNEY TIDBITS
* San Diego State will be out to win its second conference tournament championship under current head coach Peter Mattera.
* During the seven-year tenure of Mattera, the Aztecs have posted three second-place finishes. SDSU's lone conference tournament title under Mattera came in 1997 when the Aztecs defeated BYU in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) final. That year, SDSU finished the season 18-3 and reached the NCAA West Regional final.
* All time, San Diego State has won a total of eight conference tournament championships. The Aztecs' first league tournament crown came in 1985 when SDSU captured the inaugural Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) tournament.AIR FORCE ON TAP
* San Diego State's opening round opponent is No. 8 seed Air Force. Despite playing in the same conference for many years, Thursday's dual match will be the first between the Falcons and Aztecs.
AZTECS VS. THE MWC
* SDSU has faced six of the seven Mountain West Conference schools in women's tennis, including three this season. The Aztecs are 42-23 (.646) all-time versus MWC foes and have a winning record against every conference school it has played except BYU (12-16). The following is SDSU's record versus each MWC school:
Air Force 0-0
BYU 12-16
Colorado St. 4-0
New Mexico 9-3
UNLV 8-4
Utah 8-0
Wyoming 1-0
Total 42-23 (.646)
A QUICK LOOK AT THE AZTECS
* San Diego State enters the 2000 Mountain West Conference Women's Tennis Championship 13-8 overall, 2-1 MWC.
* During their 2000 dual match campaign, 18 of the Aztecs 21 opponents were ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
* SDSU finished the regular season 9-8 versus ranked teams and had at least one win against teams from the Pac-10, Big 10, WAC, Big West, and the Ivy League.
* All eight of San Diego State's losses came at the hands of ranked teams.
* The Aztecs have played seven dual matches that ended in 5-4 decisions. SDSU finished the regular season 4-3 in those contests.
MATTERA NOTCHES 100TH WIN
* SDSU head Coach Peter Matter recorded win No. 100 of his career on April 14 when the Aztecs defeated Fresno State, 5-4. During his tenure at SDSU, Mattera's Aztecs have failed to reach the 10-win plateau only once, 1994. Since taking over prior to the 1993-94 season, SDSU has averaged over 14 wins a season against what is annually one of the nation's toughest schedules. Mattera has also led the Aztecs into postseason play five times in his six years at the helm, including a current streak of four straight.
SDSU'S HOT FINISH
* After going 9-7 in its first 16 dual matches, San Diego State finished the season on a roll as the Aztecs recorded victories in four of their final five matches. The Aztecs opened the run with a 6-3 win over conference rival UNLV. A pair of 5-4 wins over the University of San Diego and Fresno State followed before SDSU was finally upset by New Mexico, 5-4.
STREAKS NONETHELESS
* Twice this season the Aztecs won three straight matches against ranked teams. The first run came from March 3 to March 14 when SDSU defeated No. 26 Tulsa (5-4), No. 53 Princeton (6-3), and No. 62 Washington State (5-3). They duplicated the feat from April 1 to April 14 beating No. 72 UNLV (6-3), No. 75 University of San Diego (5-4) and No. 38 Fresno State (5-4).
BOTTOMS UP
* The key to San Diego State's success in 2000 has been the production the Aztecs have received from the bottom half of their lineup. Through 21 dual matches, SDSU is 41-22 (.651) in the No. 4-6 positions. By contrast, the Aztecs are a combined 26-37 (.413) in the top three spots. SDSU saw most of its success at No. 5 this season, going a combined 15-6.
DOING IT WITH DOUBLES
* San Diego State has continued its tradition of strong doubles play in 2000. In the 20 dual matches in which doubles were contested, SDSU won at least two of the three doubles positions 13 times, including six sweeps.
* The Aztecs were particularly productive in the No. 2 and 3 spots, posting a combined 12-7 record at No. 2 and a 14-6 mark at No. 3.
* Senior Lisa Papi and freshman Katja Karrento led the way at No. 2 with an 8-4 record, including five straight wins to close the regular season. Sophomore Julie Chidley and freshman Lindsey Hedberg were even better, posting a perfect 6-0 mark at No. 3.
* Despite going just 5-12, the SDSU doubles pair of senior Laura Aguero and junior Whitney Wells did post a number of impressive wins, including a 9-8 (4) victory over Princeton's 45th-ranked duo of Hastings-Phillips and Large.
NEVER SAY DIE
* The SDSU doubles team of Julie Chidley and Lisa Papi posted one of the greatest comebacks in Aztec history this season. With the dual match tied at 4-4, Chidley and Papi overcame a 7-0 deficit against Tulsa's Durska and Posada to win 9-8 (7) and preserve a 5-4 Aztec victory.
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
* After posting an 11-4 record as a freshman, Julie Chidley returned to register an even better sophomore year. Chidley, who hails from Riverside, Calif., produced a team-high 21 wins in 1999-00, including a 13-6 record in dual match play.
NICE DEBUT
* Freshman Katja Karrento displayed no first-year jitters in her debut season as an Aztec, posting a solid 18-12 record in her first year of collegiate tennis. Karrento was thrust into the fray early and played at least one match in each of the No. 1-3 slots. She finished the regular season with a 13-8 record in dual match play, but saw most of her success at No. 3 where she was 6-2.
SPEAKING OF DEBUTS
* Not to be outdone by her fellow classmate, freshman Lindsey Hedberg turned in a 19-9 singles record for SDSU in 1999-00. Hedberg, who was 9-3 for the Aztecs at No. 4, won six straight matches from March 6 to March 21 -- her longest winning streak of the season.
STREAKING WITH BECKER
* From March 6 to April 14, sophomore Katey Becker won 12 of 13 matches, including nine in straight sets. Becker also had two separate five-match winning streaks during the 1999-00 campaign. She finished the season with an 18-9 overall record, but was particularly successful at No. 5, where she boasts an 11-3 mark.
CONFERENCE HONORS
* Junior Whitney Wells, sophomore Julie Chidley and sophomore Katey Becker all earned Mountain West Conference Player of the Week honors this season. SDSU was the only team to have more than one player from its team win the award.
UPDATED PLAYER PROFILES
Laura Aguero
5-4 * Senior * Satillo, Mexico (Tyler JC)
1999-00: One of the Aztecs most versatile players...Competed in the No.'s 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 spots...Won four straight matches at the UC Irvine Blue & Gold Invitational in October before falling to teammate Katey Becker in the final...Won three straight matches in February, all in straight sets...Defeated U.C. Irvine's Carla Nasca 6-2, 6-0 and Loyola Marymount's Holli Freudenberg 6-0, 6-2...Overall record was 10-18, while her dual record was 6-14...Teamed with Whitney Wells to defeat Princeton's 45th-ranked doubles team of Hastings-Phillips and Large 9-8 (4) in the No. 1 spot...The duo finished with a 5-12 overall record in the Aztec's No. 1 doubles position...Finished her Aztec career with a 23-26 overall record, while going 16-19 in doubles play.
Katey Becker
5-7 * Sophomore * Orange, Calif. (Villa Park HS)
1999-00: Competed for most of the year in the No. 5 spot, where she compiled an 11-3 record...Won four straight matches to win the UC Irvine Blue & Gold Invitational...Won seven straight matches from March 3rd to the 21st, all in straight sets...At one point in the season, she won 12-of-13 matches...Finished the year with an 18-9 mark overall and a 13-6 record in dual play...Teamed with Lindsey Hedberg in doubles to go 7-3 in the No. 2 and 3 positions.
Emelie Akerbrant-Bengtsson
5-8 * Freshman * Lidkoping, Sweden (De La Gardie School)
1999-00: Earned her first college win in her first match with a dominating 6-0, 6-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara's Melissa Dillard...Finished the year 1-2 in dual match-play and 4-5 overall...Competed in the No. 6 position...Had an impressive 6-3, 6-3 win over UC Santa Barbara's Camille Behnke...Went a combined 2-1 in doubles play.
Julie Chidley
5-6 * Sophomore * Riverside, Calif. (Riverside Poly HS)
1999-00: Closed out the year with a team-high 21 wins...Defeated USD's Erica Pyne in impressive fashion, 6-0, 6-1, and Ohio State's Katherine Martin 6-1, 6-0...Finished with an 11-4 record in the No. 6 spot...Won three straight matches on three separate occasions during the season...Advanced to the quarter-finals of the UC Irvine Blue & Gold Classic before falling to teammate Whitney Wells... Finished with a 21-12 overall record while going 13-6 in dual play...With the dual match tied at 4, Chidley teamed with Lisa Papi against Tulsa's duo of Aleksandra Durska and Bianca Posada to overcome a 7-0 deficit and win 9-8 (7)...Was a combined 10-4 in doubles, playing primarily in the No. 3 position with Lindsey Hedberg...Posted a 7-0 record while playing with Hedberg.
Lindsey Hedberg
5-6 * Freshman * Austin, Texas (Westwood High School)
1999-00: Finished her first year as an Aztec 19-9 overall, including 13-7 in dual match play...Split time in the No. 3 and 4 positions...At one point, won eight of 10 matches, seven in straight sets...Won six in a row from March 6th to the 21st, and five straight from October 8th to the 15th...Finished with a 9-3 record in the No. 4 position...Began her Aztec career by winning three in a row en route to winning the SDSU Fall Classic Flight II championship...Was a combined 15-3 in doubles play...Went 8-3 in the No. 2 and 3 positions with teammate Katey Becker, and 7-0 while teamed with Julie Chidley in the No. 3 spot.
Katja Karrento
5-7 * Freshman * Mariehamn, Finland (Alands Lyceum)
1999-00: Finished her freshman campaign with an 18-12 record overall and a 13-8 mark in dual play while splitting time in the No. 2 and 3 positions...Defeated Cal State Northridge's Isabella Peinter 6-3, 6-4 in her only match in the No. 1 spot...Had a four-match winning streak at one point in the season...Advanced to the finals of the SDSU Fall Classic Flight II before falling to teammate Lindsey Hedberg...Defeated Tulsa's Bianca Posada impressively, 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 2 spot...Posted a 8-4 record in doubles play while teamed with Lisa Papi in the No. 2 position...Recorded a 6-1 record with teammate Whitney Wells in doubles tournament competition...Finished the year with a 16-6 overall doubles record.
Lisa Papi
5-6 * Senior * Fresno, Calif. (Bullard HS)
1999-00: Finished her Aztec career going 5-6, splitting time between the No.'s 5 and 6 slots...Defeated Long Beach State's Melissa Hlebasko 6-1, 6-0...Teamed with Julie Chidley, to give the Aztecs a dramatic win over Tulsa by overcoming a 7-0 deficit to the Golden Hurricane team of Aleksandra Durska and Bianca Posada to win 9-8 (7)...Competed in the No. 1, 2, and 3 doubles positions with four different partners (Wells, Karrento, Chidley, Akerbrant)...Had a 17-8 combined record in doubles play...Finished her Aztec career with a 30-31 overall record while going 62-39 in doubles competition.
Whitney Wells
5-3 * Junior * Fresno, Calif. (Fresno Christian)
1999-00: Competed as the Aztecs' No. 1 player...Recorded an 11-17 overall record, while going 6-14 in dual match play...Defeated Saint Mary's Karen Holland and UNLV's Britta Gabl 6-2, 6-0...Teamed with Laura Aguero in the No. 1 doubles position for most of the year...The pair finished with a 5-12 overall record...With Aguero defeated Princeton's 45th-ranked team of Hastings-Phillips and Large 9-8 (4)...Went 6-1 in tournament play while teamed with Katja Karrento.