April 30, 2004

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State men's tennis team is one victory away from its third consecutive league championship following a 4-2 victory over UNLV in Friday's semifinal round of the 2004 Mountain West Conference Men's Tennis Championship at the Barnes Tennis Center.

San Diego State will face New Mexico in the league championship match for the second consecutive season and the third time in five years. The Lobos won the MWC title in 2000, while the Aztecs claimed the title in 2002 and 2003.

The Aztecs, seeded third, won the doubles point from second-seeded UNLV. San Diego State received wins from its number two and three doubles teams. At two, Markus Dickhardt and Dontia Haynes were 8-4 winners and SDSU won the point when Daniel Jung and Armando Carrascosa posted an 8-6 victory.

San Diego State won at the top three singles positions and recorded two victories over nationally-ranked opponents. After the Rebels took a 2-1 lead in the match, the Aztecs tied the team score when Dickhardt was a 6-2, 6-2 winner at number three. At number one, 40th-ranked Felix Hardt gave SDSU the lead with a 6-4, 6-1 victory 69th-ranked Henner Nehles. Two-time All-American Ryan Redondo clinched the match for the Aztecs with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over 121st-ranked Aviram Salomon.

The Aztecs and Lobos will meet tomorrow for the second time this season. New Mexico recorded a 4-3 victory earlier this month in Albuquerque. The championship match is scheduled to begin at noon PDT at the Barnes Tennis Center.

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEN'S SEMIFINALS
(1) New Mexico 5, (5) Utah 0
(3) San Diego State 4, (2) UNLV 2


MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
(1) New Mexico vs. (3) San Diego State, Saturday Noon PDT


(3) SAN DIEGO STATE 4, (2) UNLV 2


Match Start Time: 2:30 p.m. PDT
Weather: 68 degrees, winds out of the north at 15 mph; sunny and breezy


DOUBLES --
No. 1 - No. 56 Ryan Redondo/Felix Hardt (SDSU) vs. Henner Nehles/Romain Massaro (UNLV) - 6-4, DNF
No. 2 - Markus Dickhardt/Dontia Haynes (SDSU) def. Joel Kielbowicz/Aviram Salomon (UNLV) - 8-4
No. 3 - Daniel Jung/Michael Coehlo (SDSU) def. David DiMartino/Marko Blagojevic (UNLV) - 8-6
Order of Finish: 2, 3
Clinched Point: 3


SINGLES --
No. 1 - No. 40 Felix Hardt (SDSU) def. No. 69 Henner Nehles (UNLV) - 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 - Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. No. 121 Aviram Salomon (UNLV) - 7-5, 6-2
No. 3 - Markus Dickhardt (SDSU) def. Romain Massaro (UNLV) - 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - Daniel Jung (SDSU) vs. David DiMartino (UNLV) - 6-4, 3-6, 2-1, DNF
No. 5 - Joel Kielbowicz (UNLV) def. Dontia Haynes (SDSU) - 6-3, 3-2, ret.
No. 6 - Marko Blagojevic (UNLV) def. Michael Coehlo (SDSU) - 6-1, 6-4
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 3, 1, 2
Clinched Match: 2


Time of Match: 2:42