Sam Tullis helps BYU top San Diego State 4-2

SAN DIEGO – Sophomore Sam Tullis clinched the final singles match 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 to help BYU men's tennis top San Diego State 4-2 at the Aztec Tennis Center Saturday night in San Diego.

“The infamous Vince Lombardi ‘The will to prepare to win’ quote characterizes this team,” BYU head coach Brad Pearce said. “They paid the price on the practice court to be ready for this win today. Hats off to SDSU for battling to the last man, and my best goes to their coaching staff and players through the rest of the season.”

Undefeated doubles duo Matthew Pearce and David Ball helped BYU (5-0) clinch the doubles point over San Diego State (0-2) in a set tiebreaker 7-6 (6).

No. 1 doubles team Sean Hill and Jeffrey Hsu defeated Santiago Cevallos and Arnaud Restifo 6-3, while S. Tullis and Ben Gajardo fell to San Diego State in the No. 2 slot.

In singles play, Gajardo finished with a solid win over Jan Kirchhoff 6-3, 6-0 to give the Cougars momentum over the Aztecs. Hill earned a victory in No. 1 singles, but M. Pearce and Ball fell short in their matches. Tullis battled and solidified the BYU 4-2 win in a three-set match.

The Cougars host regional opponents Northern Arizona on Friday, Feb. 2, at 5:30 p.m. MST and Boise State on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1:00 p.m. MST at the Indoor Tennis Courts.

Match Results

BYU 4, SDS 2

Doubles Results

1. HILL, Sean/HSU, Jeffrey (BYU) def. CEVALLOS, Santiago/RESTIFO, Arnaud (SDS) 6-3
2. MITCHELL, Nicholas/GJOELS-ANDERSON, Sander (SDS) def. TULLIS, Sam/GAJARDO, Ben (BYU) 6-4
3. PEARCE, Matthew/BALL, David (BYU) def. DE LA TORRE, Raul/GONZALEZ ALMAZAN, Rafael (SDS) 7-6(6)

Order of finish (1, 2, 3)

Singles Results

1. HILL, Sean (BYU) def. CEVALLOS, Santiago (SDS) 6-3, 7-5
2. HSU, Jeffrey (BYU) vs. RESTIFO, Arnaud (SDS) 4-6, 7-6, 3-2 (DNF)
3. TULLIS, Sam (BYU) def. GJOELS-ANDERSON, Sander (SDS) 5-7, 6-0, 6-3
4. POPOV, Joel (SDS) def. PEARCE, Matthew (BYU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
5. GAJARDO, Ben (BYU) def. KIRCHHOFF, Jan (SDS) 6-3, 6-0
6. MARTINEZ, Ignacio (SDS) def. BALL, David (BYU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Order of finish (5, 1, 4, 6, 3)