Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i
Fresno State-Undefeated in WAC
3/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 24, 2012
By Kate Whitney
katewhitney23@gmail.com
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 18 Fresno State men's tennis team defeated Hawai'i, 6-1, on Saturday at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center for its fourth win in Western Athletic Conference play.
The Bulldogs (13-2, 4-0 WAC) earned the doubles point over Hawai'i (3-8, 2-1 WAC) in a 2-1 decision to gain a 1-0 advantage leading into singles competition.
The `Dogs continued their winning streak into singles with wins from five out of the six positions. Senior Jean-Charles Diame led off for the team with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Charlie Rice at No. 3 singles. Freshman Reid DeLaubenfels quickly followed suit at No. 5, beating Carter Lam, 6-0, 7-6 (6). Freshman Sai Kartik Nakireddi clinched the Bulldog win with a 6-4, 6-1, defeat over David Schuester at the No. 3 spot.
At No. 4 singles, senior David Ayoun bested Jared Spiker, 6-4, 5-7, (10-6). At No. 2, 58th-ranked singles player, Francis Alcantara defeated Dmytro Kovalyov, 6-4, 6-3. The match ended with No. 22 Remi Boutillier falling to Jonathan Brooklyn, 4-6, 7-5, (11-9) at No. 1. This is the senior's second loss of the season.
Today's win was a much needed boost for the team after suffering its first loss since January to No. 23 Tulsa on Friday night.
"I think today's win really shows the character of this team and its leaders," Assistant coach Derek Schwandt said. "The three seniors have really led this team to play with determination and take each match as it comes."
The Bulldogs head to Boise, Idaho. Friday, March 31 to face old WAC rivals, Boise State at 11 a.m. at the Appleton Tennis Center.
No. 18 Fresno State, 6 Hawai'i, 1
Fresno, Calif.
Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center
Singles
1. Brooklyn (H) def. # 22 Boutillier (FS), 4-6, 7-5, (11-9)
2. # 58 Alcantara (FS) def. Kovalyov (H), 6-4, 6-3
3. Diame (FS) def. Rice (H), 6-1, 6-1
4. Ayoun (FS) def. Spiker (H), 6-4, 5-7, (10-6)
5. deLaubenfels (FS) def. Lam (H), 6-0, 7-6 (6)
6. Nakireddi (FS) def. Schuester (H), 6-4, 6-1
(3,5,6,4,2,1)
Doubles
1. Brooklyn/Kovalyov (H) def. #65 Boutillier/Alcantara (FS), 8-5
2. Ayoun/Leslie (FS) def. Lam/Rice (H), 8-3
3. deLaubenfels/Diame (FS) def. Casanova/Schuester (H), 8-2
(2,3,1)
Match notes
Fresno State 13-2, 4-0 WAC; National ranking #18
Hawai'i 3-8, 2-1 WAC
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