The second-seeded Fresno State men’s tennis team punched its third-consecutive ticket to the WAC title match after topping host and third-seeded New Mexico State, 4-0. The Bulldogs last won the championship in 1999 and are seeking their third WAC title. No. 49 Fresno State will face fourth-seeded Hawai'i in the title match Sunday, 10:00 a.m., at the Aggie Tennis Center.
With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 17-8, while New Mexico State ends its season at 13-7. Fresno State took a 1-0 lead after winning the tiebreaker at No. 3 doubles, and recorded three singles victories to punch their ticket to the WAC title match. The Bulldogs tallied wins at the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 positions to clinch the match.
Fresno State's Denny Fafek defeated New Mexico State's Stefan McKinney, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 4 spot, while Siddharth Alapait took down Alejandro de Mucha, 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 6 position. Martin Nilsson clinched the match for the Bulldogs with a 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Eduardo Salas at the No. 5 spot.
The Bulldogs will be seeking their third WAC Championship and first since 1999 and will face fourth-seeded Hawai'i, Sunday, Apr. 27, at 10:00 a.m. at the Aggie Tennis Center.
#2 Fresno State 4, #3 New Mexico State 0
Singles competition
1. Gustave Diep (NMSU) vs. #83 Rudolf Siwy (FRESNO) 6-4, 6-5, DNF
2. Roman Stoisavljevic (NMSU) vs. Mirko Zapletal (FRESNO) 6-2, 4-6, 2-5, DNF
3. Jim Brouleau (NMSU) vs. Tejesvi Veerepalli (FRESNO) 6-1, 3-6, 3-5, DNF
4. Denny Fafek (FRESNO) def. Stefan McKinney (NMSU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Martin Nilsson (FRESNO) def. Eduardo Salas (NMSU) 6-7, 6-0, 6-2
6. Siddharth Alapati (FRESNO) def. Alejandro de Mucha (NMSU) 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 4, 6, 5*
Did Not Finish: 1, 2, 3
Doubles competition
1. Rudolf Siwy/Mirko Zapletal (FRESNO) def. Roman Stoisavljevic/Eduardo Salas (NMSU) 8-4
2. Jim Brouleau/Gustave Diep (NMSU) def. Denny Fafek/Taylor Leiby (FRESNO) 8-4
3. Tejesvi Veerepalli/Flavio Mollinedo(FRESNO) def. Stefan McKinney/Alejandro de Mucha (NMSU) 9-8
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3*