Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i (WAC Semifinals)
Fresno State Downs Hawai'i, Heads to Title Match
4/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 28, 2007
BOISE, Idaho - The Bulldogs made certain they get another shot at the WAC title after Fresno State defeated Hawai'i 4-0 in the semifinals, Saturday in Boise, Idaho. Fresno State will play the winner of the Boise State-Nevada match on Sunday morning.
Boise State, this year's No. 1 seed, has won the Western Athletic Conference the past two seasons, beating the Bulldogs last year 4-3. The two teams' ongoing rivalry heated up last season when Fresno State led Boise State in a rain-shortened match at the Wathen Tennis Center. This season, the Bulldogs lost 4-3 to the Broncos during the regular season at the Appleton Tennis Center in Boise.
On Saturday however, the Bulldogs did not look past Hawai'i and beat the Warriors soundly in all aspects. Fresno State won the doubles point with solid victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Senior Jakub Cech and freshman Mirko Zapletal downed Henemann and Weber 8-5, while senior Charles Irie and freshman Tejesvi Veerepalli defeated Lajola and Mendoza 8-4.
In singles, Zapletal was the first to finish, blowing past Chad Faulk 6-1, 6-0. Zapletal improved to 21-10 overall and won his team-best 17 dual match in singles.
Veerepalli was also solid, beating Derrick Lajola 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 5 spot. Veerepalli has now won three of his last four, improving to 16-10 overall and 10-10 in dual matches.
Irie clinched the match for the second straight day, beating Spence Mendoza 6-1, 6-1. Irie improved to 15-7 in dual matches and won his team-best 23 overall victory of the season.
Cech led 6-2, 5-4 over Andreas Weber and freshman Flavio Mollinedo was leading Jeff Fitch 6-4, 5-3 when the match was clinched.
The Bulldogs and Broncos will meet for the WAC crown at 10 a.m. PT on Sunday in the Appleton Tennis Center.
NCAA Men's Tennis (WAC Semifinals)
April 28, 2007
Appletton Tennis Center - Boise, Idaho
No. 72 Fresno State def. Hawai'I, 4-0
Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) Cech/Zapletal (FS) def. Heinemann/Weber (UH), 8-5
2) Irie/Veerepalli (FS) def. Lajola/Mendoza (UH), 8-4
3) Leiby/Siwy (FS) v. Faulk/Fitch (UH), 5-6 DNF Order of completion: 2, 1
Singles
1) No. 85 Jakub Cech (FS) v. No. 54 Andreas Weber (UH), 6-2, 5-4 DNF
2) Rudolf Siwy (FS) v. No. 80 Sascha Heinemann (UH), 6-7 (1), 2-3 DNF
3) Mirko Zapletal (FS) def. Chad Faulk (UH), 6-1, 6-0
4) Charles Irie (FS) def. Spence Mendoza (UH), 6-1, 6-1
5) Tejesvi Veerepalli (FS) def. Derrick Lajola (UH), 6-2, 6-2
6) Flavio Mollinedo (FS) v. Jeff Fitch (UH), 6-4, 5-3 DNF
Order of completion: 3, 5, 4
Records: Fresno State (13-9); Hawai'i (8-11)
Players Mentioned
