Fresno State Athletics
No. 17 Men's Tennis Starts Season 2-0
2/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 13, 2001
THIS WEEK
The Bulldogs are off this week.
NEXT WEEK
Wed., Feb. 21--- at No. 23 USC--- Los Angeles, Calif. 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 24--- UC Irvine--- Fresno, Calif. 1 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 25--- No. 5 Texas--- Fresno, Calif. 12 p.m.
LAST WEEK
Thu., Feb. 8--- at No. 22 Cal--- Berkeley, Calif. W, 5-2
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Rainy weather in the Bay Area forced two of the Bulldog's three matches last week to be postponed. Fresno State was scheduled to play at No. 1 Stanford on Feb. 9, and that match will be played at a later date, with the time and day yet to be determined. The Bulldog's match at Santa Clara on Feb. 10 was also postponed due to rain and has been rescheduled for Thu., Apr. 19, with the time to be announced. Also, the Bulldog's Feb. 18 home match against Nevada has been postponed until April, with the exact date and time yet to be announced.
THE CHASE RESUMES
All-American senior Peter Luczak, whowas awarded a No. 14 preseason singles ranking after finishing last season 32-14, needs only 22 singles wins to break the all-time mark of 105 held by Bryan Juinio. Luczak is 2-0 in the spring, and recently defeated No. 7 John Paul Fruttero of Cal 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 in a No. 1 singles clash during Fresno State's 5-2 victory over the Golden Bears on Feb. 8. Luczak, who has also been considered a contender for the NCAA singles title, sat out the fall season playing in satellite and challenger tournaments. The Melbourne, Australia, native has posted identical 32-14 records the last two seasons.
YOUNG GUNS
Freshmen Alex Menichini and Alex Krohn are each 2-0 in singles play for the Bulldogs thus far this season. Menichini (6-4 overall) and Krohn (5-6 overall) have each been impressive in early season matches, and both will have to continue to contribute for the Bulldogs to be successful. In addition, fellow freshman Michael Moretti won his Fresno State debut singles match against Stacy Merenoff of Cal Poly in straight sets. According to head coach Michael Hegarty, the singles play of the three freshmen will be a major factor in the Bulldog's early season matches.
MULLINS LEADS `DOGS IN THE FALL
Senior David Mullins was the Bulldog's best singles player in the fall season, posting an 11-3 mark. He won the Wathen/Hancock Bulldog Tennis Classic by defeating Oregon's Oded Teig in the finals 7-6 (3), 6-3. Mullins also advanced to the round of 16 in singles at the ITA Regional Championships and advanced to the doubles semifinals with teammate Nick Fustar in the same tournament. Mullins won nine matches in a row at one point this fall, and his 65 singles wins during the past two seasons lead the team.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Bulldog's home record since the dedication of the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center on Feb. 1, 1998, is worth noting. The Bulldogs have gone 33-2 at home since then, including a 28-match win streak entering last season's USC match. Even more impressively, Fresno State's home record dating back to the 1993-94 season is an incredible 70-4.
BULLDOGS AMBUSH GOLDEN BEARS IN 5-2 WIN
Fresno State picked up their second win of the season by recording a 5-2 win against No. 22 Cal on Feb. 8. The Bulldogs captured teh doubles point by winning two of the three doubles matches. Fresno State's No. 1 duo of Peter Luczak and David Mullins defeated Cal's top team of Adrian Barnes and J.P. Fruttero 8-5 to highlight the victory.
