Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i
Complete Team Effort Lifts Bulldogs Over Warriors
2/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 8, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - Head coach Jay Udwadia has been saying that depth will be a key to his team's success this year. On Friday night at the Wathen Tennis Center, Udwadia used all nine players that were at his disposal. The Bulldogs gave a complete team effort en route to a 6-1 victory over conference foe Hawai'i.
"I was very impressed with the way the top half of our lineup came out and led us to victory," Udwadia said. "We played well in doubles and our depth proved to be a major factor in the way we played today."
The doubles point came down to court No. 1. After sophomore Taylor Leiby and junior Rudolf Siwy beat Lajola and Mendoza on court No. 2, sophomores Tejesvi Veerepalli and Mirko Zapletal edged Heinemann and Weber 8-6 to clinch the point.
The 'Dogs led 1-0 and never let up. Freshman Martin Nilsson breezed past Craig Faulk in straight sets for his first win as a Bulldog. Freshman Siddharth Alapati, playing at the No. 4 spot for the first time this year, was impressive in a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jeff Fitch.
"I played higher in the lineup today and I knew it would be a little bit tougher," Alapati said. "But I really wanted to win this match. I wanted to get ahead early and I broke his serve in the very first game."
Zapletal clinched the match with a straight set victory over Sascha Heinemann at the No. 2 spot. Siwy and sophomore Flavio Mollinedo also picked up straight-set wins.
Fresno State improved to 3-2 on the season, while Hawai'i fell to 1-6. It was the first contest of a seven-match homestand that continues on Sunday when the Bulldogs host Oregon at 11 a.m. at the Wathen Tennis Center.
NCAA Men's Tennis
Wathen Tennis Center (Fresno, Calif.)
Feb. 8, 2008
No. 74 Fresno State def. Hawai'i, 6-1
Doubles (Fresno State wins doubles point)
1) Veerepalli/Zapletal (FS) def. Heinemann/Weber (UH), 8-6
2) Fitch/Faulk (UH) def. Fafek/Kerin (FS), 8-4
3) Leiby/Siwy (FS) def. Mendoza/Lajola (UH), 8-4
Order of completion: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1) No. 92 Rudolf Siwy (FS) def. Dennis Lajola (UH), 6-3, 6-2
2) Mirko Zapletal (FS) def. Sascha Heinemann (UH), 6-2, 6-3
3) No. 25 Andreas Weber (UH) def. Tejesvi Veerepalli (FS), 6-2, 6-2
4) Siddharth Alapati (FS) def. Jeff Fitch (UH), 6-2, 6-3
5) Flavio Mollinedo (FS) def. Spence Mendoza (UH), 6-2, 7-6 (2)
6) Martin Nilsson (FS) def. Craig Faulk (UH), 6-1, 6-2
Order of completion: 6, 4, 2, 3, 1, 5
Records: Fresno State (3-2); Hawai'i (1-6)
"Join the State - Fresno State!" -The Fresno State men's tennis team continues play at home in the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center against Oregon Sunday, February 10 at 11 a.m.
