IRVINE, Calif. --- The 'Eaters and Aztecs fought back and forth even down to the last point, but the No. 74 Aztecs managed to pull it out over UC Irvine, 4-3, at Anteater Tennis Stadium Friday afternoon.
Fabian Matthews (Newport Beach / Corona del Mar HS) and Ryan Cheung (Irvine / University HS) made quick work in doubles winning 8-2. Sam Gould (Hamilton, New Zealand / St. Kentigren College Prep) and Jon Kazarian (Rancho Palos Verdes / Peninsula HS) followed suit with an 8-2 to give UCI the doubles point. Jacob Jung (Upland / Options for Youth HS) and Mika DeCoster (Ladera Ranch / Laurel Springs HS) would fall, 8-6, in the No. 3 slot.
In singles play, the 'Eaters (1-4) and Aztecs (3-0) traded points back and forth. Cheung fell first, 6-4,6-0, to give the Aztecs a point, 1-1. UCI retook the lead as Matthews won in straight sets, 6-2,6-2. SDSU pulled even again as Kazarian fell, 6-3,6-1. Jung would give UCI the lead again in straight sets, 6-4,6-2. Shuhei Shibahara (Rancho Palos Verdes / Peninsula HS) dropped his match, 6-3,6-1, in the No. 6 slot.
Sam Gould and Derek Siddiqui would go on an epic run to finish out the match. Siddiqui somehow won a vicious first set, 7-5, but Gould battled back with a 6-4 second set victory. The lead changed hands a few times in the third set as Gould had to win a game to tie it back up at 6-6 heading into the set tiebreaker. Both competitors had the advantage at one point, but Siddiqui would close it out as Gould's overhand volley went wide giving Siddiqui the 8-6 tiebreaker win and the decisive point.
The 'Eaters have now lost three consecutive matches, all to ranked opponents, but they have a some time off before their next match on Feb. 20th against Big West rival, UC Santa Barbara. The 1:00 p.m. match will be held at the Anteater Tennis Stadium.
#74 San Diego State 4, #47 UC Irvine 3
SDSU: 3-0; UCI: 1-4
Irvine, Calif. -- Anteater Tennis Stadium
Doubles
No. 1: Cheung/Matthews (UCI) def. Nicholas/Pulgar (SDSU) -- 8-2
No. 2: Gould/Kazarian (UCI) def. Bertsch/Siddiqui (SDSU) -- 8-2
No. 3: Baylon/Simon (SDSU) def. DeCoster/Jung (UCI) -- 8-6
UC Irvine wins the doubles point
Order finished: 1, 2, 3
Singles
No. 1: Fabian Matthews (UCI) def. Javier Pulgar (SDSU) -- 6-2,6-2
No. 2: Derek Siddiqui (SDSU) def. Sam Gould (UCI) -- 7-5,4-6,7-6 (8-6)
No. 3: Thorsten Bertsch (SDSU) def. Ryan Cheung (UCI) -- 6-4,6-0
No. 4: Jacob Jung (UCI) def. Hunter Nicholas (SDSU) -- 6-4,6-2
No. 5: Andranik Khachatryan (SDSU) def. Jon Kazarian (UCI) -- 6-3,6-1
No. 6: Juan Florez (SDSU) def. Shuhei Shibahara (UCI) -- 6-3,6-1
Order finished: 3, 1, 4, 5, 6, 2
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