The Fresno State men's tennis team was named WAC Champions for the second year in a row on Sunday.
April 29, 2012
LAS CRUCES, N.M. -
The No. 33 Fresno State men's tennis team defeated Idaho, 4-2, and earned its second-consecutive Western Athletic Conference Championship title on Sunday at the New Mexico State Tennis Complex.
In addition to earning the title, three Bulldogs were named to the WAC All-Tournment Team in singles: seniors Remi Bouillier and David Ayoun and sophomore Francis Alcantara. Boutillier and Alcantara were also named to the WAC All-Tournament Team in doubles.
The Bulldogs (20-4) dropped the doubles' point to the Vandals (14-14) by a 2-0 decision to start the match, but rallied in singles to capture the title.
Junior Zach Leslie and Ayoun, suffered an 8-3 loss to Idaho's No. 2 doubles team Abid Akbar and Andrew Dobbs and Boutillier and Alcantara fell to Jose Bendeck and Cristobal Ramos, 8-5, at No. 1.
Despite the 1-0 deficit leading into singles play, the `Dogs returned to the courts with determination to earn the prized title of WAC Champions for a second time. At the No. 2 spot, 35th-ranked singles player Alcantara topped Akbar, 6-4, 6-2, and 26th-ranked Boutillier followed suit with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Marius Cirstea at No. 1 to put the `Dogs back in the lead, 2-1.
At No. 3, Jean-Charles Diame bested Ramos, 6-1, 6-2, to put the Bulldogs within one point of the championship title. However, Idaho's Alan Shin would not go down without a fight, defeating freshman Reid DeLaubenfels, 7-5, 6-3, at No. 6. At the No. 5 spot, Leslie clinched the Bulldog win in a three-set battle with Cesar Torres, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to bring the conference title home to Fresno for a second-straight time.
The Bulldogs will continue to celebrate on Tuesday while they watch the NCAA Selection Show at 2:30 p.m. in the Josephine Theater.
#33 Fresno State 4, Idaho 2
Las Cruces, N.M.
(NM State Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. Remi Boutillier (FS) def. Marius Cirstea (UI) 6-3, 6-2
2. Francis Alcantara (FS) def. Abid Akbar (UI) 6-4, 6-2
3. Jean-Charles Diame (FS) def. Cristobal Ramos (UI) 6-1, 6-2
4. David Ayoun (FS) vs. Jose Bendeck (UI) 6-3, 4-6, 4-2, unfinished
5. Zachary Leslie (FS) def. Cesar Torres (UI) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
6. Alan Shin (UI) def. Reid DeLaubenfels (FS) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Jose Bendeck/Cristobal Ramos (UI) def. Remi Boutillier/Francis Alcantara (FS) 8-5
2. Abid Akbar/Andrew Dobbs (UI) def. Zach Leslie/David Ayoun (FS) 8-3
3. Reid deLaubenfels/Jean-Charles Diame (FS) vs. Marius Cirstea/Filip Fichtel (UI) 6-6, unfinished
Match Notes
Idaho 14-14
Fresno State 20-4; National ranking #33
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (2,1,3,6,5)
WAC Tournament championship match
2012 Men's WAC All-Tournament Team
Singles
Jonathon Brooklyn, Hawai`i
Dmytro Kovalyov, Hawai`i
Jose Bendeck, Idaho
Francis Alcantara, Fresno State
Remi Boutillier, Fresno State
David Ayoun, Fresno State
Doubles
Jose Bendeck/Cristobal Ramos, Idaho
Abid Akbar/Andrew Dobbs, Idaho
Remi Boutillier/Francis Alcantara, Fresno State
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