Feb. 15, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's tennis team overcame a threat of rain and windy conditions Saturday to earn a 4-2 victory over Sacramento State at the SCU Tennis Center.
The Broncos improved to 4-3 on the season, while Sacramento State fell to 2-3 overall. The Broncos are scheduled to return to action tomorrow for a 1 p.m. match against UC Santa Barbara at the Santa Clara University Tennis Center. With a high probability for inclement weather in the forecast, updates on the match status will be available on SantaClaraBroncos.com and the Bronco Sportsline at 408/554-5550.
The two teams began with singles portion of the dual match and cancelled the doubles point after the two coaches agreed that incoming inclement weather was expected to affect the completion of the match. To open the match, Bronco junior Erich Chen quickly dispatched Sacramento State's top seed, Nich Sheehan, 6-3, 6-4 to earn Santa Clara's first point.
Sophomore Ben Hidalgo clinched the match for Santa Clara with a hard-fought 6-2, 6-2 victory over the Hornets' Peter Farkas at the number six position in the lineup. Hidalgo, a resident of Plano, Texas via Napa, Calif., improved his career dual match record to 3-1 overall and he is 2-1 this season for the Broncos.
"Ben plays with a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm and he plays with a lot of heart," said Head Coach George Husack following the match. "He did not get a lot of chances last season as a freshman but he is showing this year that he deserves to be here. He is a real inspiration to the rest of our guys and his desire to excel is a testament to the kind of person he is. For Ben to come out today and win this match the way he did and in these conditions was a huge lift for our team."
The match of the day belonged to sophomore Francisco Zepponi, who battled to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Sacramento State's Lewis Van Splunteren at the number three position. A native of Pleasanton, Calif., Zepponi took the first set 6-4 before dropping the second. He earned an early service break in the third set against the Hornet freshman and held on for the win.
Santa Clara 4, Sacramento State 2
Date: Saturday, February 15, 2003
Site: Santa Clara University Tennis Center
Weather: Cloudy & Windy, 58 degrees
DOUBLES
1. Michael Bruggemann / Chen (SCU) def. Albertsen / Silva (SAC), cancelled
2. Bedilion / Mattioli (SCU) def. Farkas / Sheehan (SAC), cancelled
3. Hidalgo / Zepponi (SCU) def. Chatelan / Van Splunteren (SAC), cancelled
SINGLES
1. Erich Chen (SCU) def. Nick Sheehan (SAC), 6-3, 6-4
2. Julien Chatelan (SAC) def. Federico Mattioli (SCU) 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 (4)
3. Francisco Zepponi (SCU), def. Lewis Van Splunteren (SAC), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
4. Taylor Bedilion (SCU) def. Jacub Sliva (SAC), 6-2, 6-1
5. Anderson Albertsen (SAC) def. Rick Ruso (SCU), 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
6. Ben Hidalgo (SCU) def. Peter Farkas (SAC), 6-2, 6-2
Records: Santa Clara 4-3, Sacramento State 2-3