Courtesy of San Diego State Athletics –
LAS VEGAS – After finishing off a 4-2 win over Colorado State earlier in the morning, the second-seeded and No. 62-ranked San Diego State women’s tennis faced UNLV in the Mountain West Championship match on Saturday at Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas. The Aztecs fell behind early by dropping the doubles point but came back with four singles wins on the five courts to finish in a 4-2 victory to bring home the Mountain West championship. SDSU advances to the NCAA Tournament.
The Scarlet and Black head to the postseason at 16-6 and drop the Rebels to 16-8.
In doubles, Gloria Alogo played on the third court with Zoe Olmos (4-11). Facing Salsa Aher and Aura Fang, the Aztec pair was bested 6-2. The All-Mountain West tandem of Andreea Velcea and Andjela Skrobonja (13-4), paired up on the second court. Facing Cindy Hu and Coco Zhao, the Aztecs fell by the same score. On court No. 1, the Aztecs’ other All-Mountain West team, Yasmine Kabbaj and Myah Petchey (8-8), played against Zita Kovacs and Hannah Vinahradava. The Aztecs led 4-3 when the Rebels clinched the doubles point.
The Mountain West Player of the Year, No. 97-ranked Kabbaj (15-2) battled Kovacs on the top court. It was not much of a contest as the Aztec did not lose a game, winning 6-0, 6-0.
Alogo (9-4) faced off against Zhao on court no. 4. She also won in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 to give the Aztecs a 2-1 lead. It was Alogo’s third win in three matches during the Mountain West Championships, earning her Tournament MVP honors.
On the third court, Petchey (8-7) faced Hu. Petchey was tripped up in straight sets, falling 6-4, 6-3.
An All-Mountain West singles selection, No. 98-ranked Skrobonja (17-3) matched up with Aher on the second court. She sent the first set to a tiebreaker but ran out of steam, falling 7-6 (7-5). Skrobonja was not done, however. She bounced back to win the second and third sets, both 6-4, to bring the Aztecs to the brink of a title.
Olmos (10-8) went up against Fang on the bottom court. She was shutout 6-0 in the first set but did not lose faith. The Aztec came storming back to win the second set 6-3 and force a deciding third set. The final set was close, but Olmos came through with a 7-5 win to win the Mountain West title.
Velcea (13-4) faced Nikol Mircheva on court no. 5. Velcea won the first set tiebreaker 7-6 (7-5) but fell 7-5 in a close second set. She held a commanding 5-1 lead in the third when Olmos clinched the championship.
With its Mountain West championship trophy in tow, San Diego State moves on to the NCAA Tournament.
[2] No. 62 San Diego State 4, [4] UNLV 2
Darling Tennis Center – Las Vegas, Nev.
April 27, 2024
Singles Competition
1. No. 97 Yasmine Kabbaj (SDSU) def. Zita Kovacs (UNLV) 6-0, 6-0
2. No. 98 Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU) def. Salsa Aher (UNLV) 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4
3. Cindy Hu (UNLV) def. Myah Petchey (SDSU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) def. Coco Zhao (UNLV) 6-0, 6-3
5. Andreea Velcea (SDSU) led Nikol Mircheva (UNLV) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 5-1
6. Zoe Olmos (SDSU) def. Aura Fang (UNLV) 0-6, 6-3, 7-5
Doubles Competition
1. Myah Petchey/Yasmine Kabbaj (SDSU) led Zita Kovacs/Hanna Vinahradava (UNLV) 4-3
2. Cindy Hu/Coco Zhao (UNLV) def. Andjela Skrobonja/Andreea Velcea (SDSU) 6-2
3. Salsa Aher/Aura Fang (UNLV) def. Gloria Alogo/Zoe Olmos (SDSU) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (1,4,3,2,6)
