When teams look at their schedule at the beginning of the season, they circle certain matches as victories. When the Princeton Tigers (5-4 overall) met the San Diego State men’s tennis team (2-7; 1-4 Western Athletic Conference) yesterday, it figured the day would be just another mark in the win column.
The Aztecs however, turned the Tigers into kitties, defeating them 6-1 at the East Courts.
“Yeah, they looked at our record and underestimated us,” No. 1 singles player Eric Faulk said. “But after the doubles point, they began to worry.”
In doubles play, SDSU excelled in an area that has been its weakest all season. Stepping up to the competition was the Aztecs’ No. 1 doubles team of Faulk and Steve Adamson.
They defeated Princeton’s team of Kevin Woo and Jon Gilula, 8-3. Not to be outdone, the No. 2 doubles team of Nguey Lay and Blake Pearson defeated the Tigers’ Ahn Ahn Liu and Shai Ingber by the same score.
“Lay and I didn’t get off to the best start,” Pearson said. “But we didn’t get mad or change our game plan, and it was only a matter of time before we dominated them.”
That time came in the form of singles play. Giving their best performance of the year, the Aztecs almost swept the Tigers, losing only one match.
After falling behind early, Faulk defeated Gilula, 6-7, 6-3, 6-1. Lay, the No. 2 singles player, defeated an emotional and cocky Patrick Sweeney, 7-6, 1-6, 6-0.
“He was trying to get himself pumped up, and I respect that,” Lay said. “But when the guy went up love-30 on my serve, he said, ‘Come on.’ I looked at him like, ‘You’re not going to win this match.'”
Lay’s attitude may have been contagious. Pearson, Young and Hrdina all added points to the final score by winning in just two sets.
After such weak play this season, could this be a turnaround for SDSU?
“Like I told you earlier in the season, we’re a really good team,” Lay said. “Trust me, this might be it. Very soon, things are going to be turning around, and you’re finally going to be able to write good things about us. Trust me, I have a feeling.”
