BYU Loses Heartbreaker to San Diego State

PROVO -- The No. 69 BYU men's tennis team fell just short of qualifying for the USTA/ITA Team Indoor Championships, losing to No. 53 San Diego State 4-3. The Cougars won the doubles point in the early season matchup of Mountain West Conference foes, but the Aztecs pulled out four singles matches to sneak past the Cougars.

BYU swept the doubles matches, led by the No. 10 pairing of Gert Vilms and Carlos Lozano. The duo knocked off the No. 2 doubles team in the nation, Oliver Maiberger and Ryan Redondo, 8-3. Jeff Harbach and Jeff Olsen won 9-8 for the second day in a row, and Erik Nyman and Nic Losee dominated the team of Coren/Pest, winning the match 8-4.

BYU's luck ran out in singles play though and San Diego State won just enough matches to clinch the victory. Lozano and Nyman won a pair of three-set matches at the No. 2 and No. 4 spots, respectively. Vilms lost at the No. 1 spot in three sets, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, in a rematch with Maiberger. Losee, Anton Rudjuk and Harbach each lost their matches in straight sets.

The Cougars will play on the road next weekend against Oregon and No. 22 Washington. BYU will play both matches at the University of Oregon and hope to rebound quickly.

FINAL RESULTS

DOUBLES

No. 1 Vilms/Lozano (BYU) def. Maiberger/Redondo (SDSU) 8-3

No. 2 Harbach/Olsen (BYU) def. Hardt/Hasson (SDSU) 9-8

No. 3 Nyman/Losee (BYU) def. Coren/Pest (SDSU) 8-4

SINGLES

No. 1 Oliver Maiberger (SDSU) def. Gert Vilms (BYU) 3-6, 7-6, 6-4

No. 2 Carlos Lozano (BYU) def. Valentino Pest (SDSU) 6-7, 7-6, 6-2

No. 3 Felix Hardt (SDSU) def. Nic Losee (BYU) 6-2, 6-3

No. 4 Erik Nyman (BYU) def. Travis Hasson (SDSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1

No. 5 Ryan Redondo (SDSU) def. Anton Rudjuk (BYU) 6-2, 6-4

No. 6 Gabe Coren (SDSU) def. Jeff Harbach (BYU) 6-3, 6-4