Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Boise State
Zapletal Leads the `Dogs to Championship Match
5/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
May 1, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - No. 29 Fresno State knocked off the 42nd-ranked Boise State Broncos, 4-2, on Saturday to advance to the WAC Championship Match for the fourth time in five years.
Two familiar opponents, the Bulldogs and the Broncos fought hard for every point as the drama mounted.
"We knew today was going to be a battle between two rival schools and we're glad to get through to the championship," Fresno State head coach Jay Udwadia said. "The WAC has some great teams and we're grateful to make it to the finals. We're looking forward to a great championship with Hawai'i."
With the team score 3-2, the remaining matches on Courts 1 and 5 each went into third sets.
Fresno State senior Mirko Zapletal battled hard after dropping the first set, 2-6, to the 2010 WAC Player of the Year and 47th-ranked James Meredith and won the second set 6-4.
Third set was a classic set filled with strong serves and excellent volleys by both sides. But with the crowd chanting his name, Zapletal won the final set 7-5 and clinched the win for the Bulldogs.
"It's even sweeter to win at home in front of your friends supporters, so they can share in the victory with us," Zapletal said following the victory that put the `Dogs in the championship match.
Other `Dogs also picked up crucial victories on the afternoon.
An undeterred Remi Boutillier defeated Filipp Pogostkin, 6-1, 6-3. Tejesvi Veerepalli went to a tiebreaker in the second set to defeat Harry Skinner, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5).
In doubles, No. 24 Rikus de Villiers and Boutillier defeated Meredith and Jeff Mullen, 8-2, and Taylor Leiby and Zapletal knocked off Vicente Joli and Pogostkin, 8-6.
The `Dogs will now face top-seeded and 43rd-ranked Hawai'i in the championship match on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
NCAA MEN'S TENNIS
May 1, 2010 - Fresno, Calif.
No. 29 Fresno State 4, No. 42 Boise State 2
Doubles (Fresno State wins the doubles point)
1. No. 24 Boutillier/de Villiers (FS) def. Meredith/Mullen (BSU), 8-2
2. Leiby/Zapletal (FS) def. Joli/Pogostkin (BSU), 8-6
3. Bothe/Sheldon (BSU) def. Alapati/Veerepalli (FS), 8-4
Order of Completion: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1. Mirko Zapletal (FS) def. No. 47 James Meredith (BSU), 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. Vicente Joli (BSU) def. Rikus de Villiers (FS), 6-4, 6-3
3. Remi Boutillier (FS) def. Filipp Pogostkin (BSU), 6-1, 6-3
4. Tejesvi Veerepalli (FS) def. Harry Skinner (BSU), 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
5. David Ayoun (FS) vs. Alex Bothe (BSU), DNF
6. Jeff Mullen (BSU) def. Siddharth Alapati (FS), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
Order of Completion: 3, 2, 6, 4*
"We Are Your Team" - Come help the `Dogs earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, as they take on No. 43 Hawai'i in the WAC Championship match on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center. For all the up to date information on Fresno State men's tennis stay logged on to gobulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
