SAN DIEGO - The 21st-ranked UC San Diego men's tennis team returned to the courts Friday for the first time since November, taking on San Diego State in an exhibition match-up at Aztec Tennis Center.

SDSU, ranked 67th nationally among NCAA Division I squads, swept UCSD to take a 7-0 victory in its regular season opener.

"They were well prepared for us, they came out ready to play," said first-year UCSD head coach Timmer Willing. "They seemed to match our intensity that we had during the fall. We did compete and had some pretty close sets. It let us know what we need to work on in practice."

Junior Max Jiganti and senior Camill Salomon put up a battle at No. 1 doubles against Thorsten Bertsch and Hunter Nicholas. At 6-6, the match was called as the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles tilts wrapped up in San Diego State's favor, giving the doubles point to the Aztecs.

At No. 1 singles, Salomon was downed in straight sets, 6-2 and 6-2, by Derek Siddiqui. Jiganti took on Bertsch at No. 2 singles and was defeated by scores of 6-1 and 6-4. Junior Rajeev Herekar stayed close in his first set against Nicholas at No. 3 singles, eventually falling 7-5. Nicholas took the second frame by a commanding 6-2 score.

It was the first competition for UCSD since the SoCal Intercollegiates, held Nov. 7-10, 2012 in Los Angeles. 

The Tritons open their regular season on Friday, Feb. 1 when they host Azusa Pacific. The match is slated for a 4 p.m. start at Northview Tennis Courts in La Jolla.

San Diego State 7, No. 21 UCSD 0
Jan. 18, 2013
Aztec Tennis Center
San Diego, Calif.

Doubles
1. Thorsten Bertsch/Hunter Nicholas (SDSU) vs. Max Jiganti/Camill Salomon (UCSD) 6-6 DNF
2. Andranik Khachatryan/Derek Siddiqui (SDSU) def. Kona Luu/Horea Porutiu (UCSD) 8-2 
3. Shiva Sangwan/Spencer Simon (SDSU) def. Maxence Dutreix/Guy Giubilato (UCSD) 8-3

Singles
1. Derek Siddiqui (SDSU) def. Camill Salomon (UCSD) 6-2, 6-2
2. Thorsten Bertsch (SDSU) def. Max Jiganti (UCSD) 6-1, 6-4 
3. Hunter Nicholas (SDSU) def. Rajeev Herekar (UCSD) 7-5, 6-2
4. Andranik Khachatryan (SDSU) def. Ganesh Alagappan (UCSD) 6-3, 6-3
5. Juan Florez (SDSU) def. Teddy Truong (UCSD) 6-4, 6-2
6. Spencer Simon (SDSU) def. Guy Giubilato (UCSD) 6-2, 6-0

-- UCSDtritons.com --