Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Arizona
`Dogs Have Classic Battle with Wildcats
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Feb. 28, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 42 Fresno State men's tennis team battled the 35th-ranked Arizona to the end, but the Wildcats pulled out a 4-3 victory on Saturday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
A raucous crowd showed up for an emotional match that came down to final point.
"It was a great college tennis match," head coach Jay Udwadia said. "Arizona played hard until the end."
It was apparent from the beginning it was shaping up to be a memorable night for both squads.
To start the afternoon, the Bulldogs and Wildcats each won a doubles match. The final deciding doubles match came down to a tiebreaker set, between Fresno State's Rikus de Villiers and Remi Boutillier and Arizona's Andres Arango and Andres Carrasco. The Bulldog duo came away with a 9-8(7-5) victory to give the Bulldogs the doubles team point.
De Villiers was the first to put up a team point for the Bulldogs in singles action. His win over Carrasco gave Fresno State a 2-0 lead.
"I felt I played really well," de Villiers said about his performance. "When he started playing better, it turned into a really good match. I am really happy to pick up the win."
Shortly after de Villiers' victory, his partner Boutillier put the Bulldogs up 3-0 with his 6-2, 7-5 win over Pat Metham.
But the Wildcats rallied and were able to tie the team score with some wins of their own. With all eyes on court four, Ravid Hazi clinched the win for Wildcats with a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory.
The Bulldogs will next be in action Sunday at 11 a.m. against Middle Tennessee State.
NCAA MEN'S TENNIS
February 28, 2009 - Fresno, Calif.
No. 35 Arizona def. No. 42 Fresno State 4-3
Doubles (Fresno State wins the doubles point)
No. 47 Zapletal/Siwy (FS) def. Hazi/VanderMerwe (ARI) 8-4
Boutillier/de Villiers (FS) def. Arango/Carrasco (ARI) 9-8(7-5)
Goldman/Metham (ARI) def. Leiby/Veerepali (FS) 8-5
Order of Completion: 1, 3, 2
Singles
No. 96 Jay Goldman (ARI) def. No. 33 Rudolf Siwy (FS) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Andres Arango (ARI) def. Mirko Zapletal (FS) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(8-6)
No. 112 Rikus de Villiers (FS) def. Andres Carrasco (ARI) 6-1, 6-6 default
Ravid Hazi (ARI) def. Tejesvi Veerepali (FS) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
Remi Boutillier (FS) def. Pat Metham (ARI) 6-2, 7-5
Jason Zafiros (ARI) def. Siddharth Alapati (FS) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
Order of Completion: 3, 5, 6, 1, 2, 4*
"Join the State - Fresno State" -- The Bulldogs return home on March 17 to take on Big 10 foe Indiana at 3 p.m. at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center. Follow the 'Dogs throughout the season on www.gobulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
