April 26, 2002
SAN DIEGO - The 28th-ranked San Diego State women's tennis team defeated 44th-ranked and fourth-seeded Brigham Young, 4-1, in the semifinal round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Thursday in Provo, Utah.
With the victory, the Aztecs advance to Saturday's championship game against 19th-ranked and second-seeded UNLV. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. PDT, with the winner earning the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. This is the second consecutive season that San Diego State has played in the championship match.
The Aztecs advanced to their second-consecutive league championship game by claiming the doubles point and winning three singles matches in straight sets. The win, the 13th in the last 14 outings for SDSU, helped avenge a 4-3 loss to the Cougars in the championship match of the 2001 tournament.
"This was a good performance by our team," Aztec coach Peter Mattera said. "There were difficult conditions because it was breezy and the crowd was against us. We played very well at both number three and number one doubles and that point was huge. BYU played well but we just played better."
The Aztecs claimed the all-important doubles point with victories by Julie Anna Chidley and Lindsey Hedberg at number three and by Katja Karrento and Katalina Romero at number one.
San Diego State increased the team advantage to 3-0 when 72nd-ranked Silvia Tornier claimed a 6-3, 6-0 win at number one and Katey Clark-Becker posted a 6-0, 7-6 decision at number five.
Following a Cougar victory at number six singles, the Aztecs clinched the match when Katja Karrento recorded a 6-4, 6-4 victory at number three singles.
No. 28 San Diego State 4, No. 44 Brigham Young 1
Doubles (San Diego State wins point)
No. 1 - Katja Karrento/Katalina Romero (SDSU) def. Brooke Beverley/Dominique Reynolds (BYU) - 8-4
No. 2 - Silvia Tornier/Indra Erichsen (SDSU) vs. Lu Oswald/Lindsay Ferrell (BYU) - DNF
No. 3 - Julie Anna Chidley/Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) def. Liza Khoudoirva/Rebecca Pike (BYU) - 8-3
Order of Finish: 3, 1
Singles
No. 1 - No. 72 Silvia Tornier (SDSU) def. Lu Oswald (BYU) - 6-3, 6-0
No. 2 - Lindsey Hedberg (SDSU) vs. Dominique Reynolds (BYU) - DNF
No. 3 - Katja Karrento (SDSU) def. Rebecca Pike (BYU) - 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 - Katalina Romero (SDSU) vs. Brooke Beverley (BYU) - DNF
No. 5 - Katey Clark-Becker (SDSU) def. Lindsay Ferrell (BYU) - 6-0, 7-6
No. 6 - Liza Khoudoirva (BYU) def. Julie Anna Chidley (SDSU) - 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 6, 3
Clinched Match: 3
Records: SDSU (18-7), Brigham Young (10-13).