Feb. 7, 2016
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The No. 38 San Diego State men's tennis team came from behind in its match at No. 58 Cal Poly to top the Mustangs by a 4-2 margin on Sunday afternoon at the Mustang Tennis Complex.
The Aztecs, who faced their fourth opponent ranked in the Oracle/ITA Division I Men's Collegiate Tennis Rankings in No. 58 Cal Poly, saw their record improve to 3-3. The Mustangs fall to 2-4.
"This was a great team win today by our guys," head coach Gene Carswell said. "We came into a hostile environment with a very tough team and would not be denied."
The match started in Cal Poly's favor. Jonas Meinzer and Sander Gjoels-Andersen fell to Dan Cardiff and Karl Enander, 6-2. Milen Ianakiev and Santiago Cevallos evened the score with a 6-3 win over Garrett Auproux and Timothy Tan. But the Aztecs left doubles play without the advantage after Ben Donovan and Corey Pang defeated Freddy Gelbrich and Hendrik Jebens, 6-4.
Said Carswell, "The guys really responded well after dropping the doubles point and turned the momentum in our favor."
San Diego State, however, displayed true grit and battled back once singles play kicked off. In the No. 6 spot, Meinzer topped Raphael Lenhard 6-4, 6-3 for the Aztecs' first point of the day. Cornelius Kolb kept the run going with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 victory over Axel Damiens. Jebens then topped Auproux, 6-3, 7-6 (6) from the No. 2 spot before Gjoels-Andersen dropped his match to Josh Ortlip 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 at court No. 4. But the SDSU rebounded, thanks to Ianakiev. The junior came from behind in the No. 3 spot, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) to take the win over Pang and clinch the Aztecs' victory at which point, Gelbrich had a commanding 7-6 (6), 2-6, 3-0 lead over Donovan from the No. 1 spot.
Next up for the Aztecs, San Diego State makes its home 2016 debut at Aztec Tennis Center on Sat., Feb. 20 with a noon match against UC Santa Barbara.
No. 58 Cal Poly 2, No. 38 San Diego State 4
February 7, 2016
Mustang Tennis Complex, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
DOUBLES
1. Donovan/Pang (CP) d. Gelbrich/Jebens (SDSU) 6-4
2. Ianakiev/Cevallos (SDSU) d. Auproux/Tan (CP) 6-3
3. Vollenweider/De Luis Lamelas (CP) d. Meinzer/Andersen (SDSU) 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
SINGLES
1. Gelbrich (SDSU) vs. Donovan (CP) unfinished
2. Jebens (SDSU) d. Auproux (CP) 6-3, 7-6 (6)
3. Ianakiev (SDSU) d. Pang (CP) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5)
4. Ortlip (CP) d. Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
5. Kolb (SDSU) d. Damiens (CP) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
6. Meinzer (SDSU) vs. Campana (CP) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 6, 3, 5, 4, 2, 1