Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
WAC Championship
Bulldogs Defeat Hawai'i, Head to Final
4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 22, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State men's tennis team defeated Hawai'i 4-0 Saturday morning in the first semifinal of the Western Athletic Conference championships in Boise, Idaho. The program is heading back to the WAC Championship for the first time since 2001 and will look to capture its first title since 1999. Behind a solid all-around effort, the Bulldogs shut out the Rainbow Warriors by winning the doubles point and three singles matches. Fresno State improved to 15-6 on the year, while Hawai'i fell to 10-6.
"We came out and took care of business," said head coach Jay Udwadia. "The guys took control early in doubles and then maintained their intensity going into singles."
Udwadia, in his second season at the helm of the men's program, has taken Fresno State from a 2005 fifth-place finish to its first conference championship appearance in five years.
Fresno State seniors Sam Gibbs and Sergiu Modoc came out firing in doubles, winning 8-4 and giving the Bulldogs momentum. Junior Jakub Cech and sophomore Sam Tadevosian also won in doubles to clinch the point for Fresno State.
Modoc came through in singles with a straight set victory, while junior Charles Irie dominated at the No. 4 spot in the lineup for a strait set win.
With the win, it will likely set up a much-anticipated re-match with Boise State in the final. Just three weeks ago, Boise State visited the Wathen Tennis Center only to escape with the match uncompleted due to inclement weather. The Bulldogs led the Broncos 2-1 with four singles matches on court. Rain began to fall and the teams were forced to stop play.
Now the Bulldogs will have to take on Boise State in the Broncos' facility in order to topple the defending champions. The match is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT on Sunday.
NCAA Men's Tennis
April 22, 2006
WAC Championships • Semifinals • Boise, Idaho
Fresno State (2) def. Hawai'i (3), 4-0
Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) No. 37 Gibbs/Modoc (FS) def. Diepraam/Sceats (UH), 8-4
2) Fitch/Weinberg (UH) def. Irie/Siwy (FS), 8-5
3) Cech/Tadevosian (FS) def. Faulk/Heinemann (UH), 8-5
Singles
1) No. 49 Jakub Cech (FS) def. Sascha Heinemann (UH), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
2) Sergiu Modoc (FS) def. Bryon Weinberg (UH), 6-4, 6-4
3) Rudolf Siwy (FS) vs. Ryan Sceats, (UH), DNF
4) Charles Irie (FS) def. Chad Faulk (UH), 6-2, 6-2
5) Sam Tadevosian (FS) vs. Jarrod Diepraam (UH), DNF
6) Jordi Ballester (FS) vs. Jeff Fitch (UH), DNF
Records: Fresno State (15-6); Hawai'i (10-6)
Players Mentioned
