ThunderWolves claim first round win at NCAAs

CSU-Pueblo 6, Mesa State 2

Related: NCAA Central Region Preliminary Bracket

DENVER, Colo. - The ThunderWolves outlasted RMAC foe Mesa State in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tennis Tournament Thursday, gaining a 6-2 win and advancing to the Central Region Preliminary Championship vs. Metro State Friday.

The ThunderWolves claimed its second win over Mesa State this season, relying on its depth to post the win.  CSU-Pueblo dropped the number-one singles and number-one doubles matches, only to win all remaining matches. 

Andres Morales (So., Puebla, Mexico), Anthony Breitenbach (Fr., Tigard, Ore.), and Andrew Rogers (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) each posted two wins.  Rogers' was the most impressive, as he won at number-six singles and number-three doubles, first claiming a tiebreaker win in doubles over Mesa State's Kevin Nydam and Willie Keller, winning an 8-6 tiebreaker after a deadlocked 8-8 match.

In his singles match, Rogers defeated Keller in another tiebreaker, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

The ThunderWolves' national tournament win marks their first since 2004.  That year, the Pack defeated that season's RMAC Champions, Nebraska-Kearney, 5-3 before falling to Southwest Baptist 5-0 in the regional semifinal.

NCAA Central Region Men's Tennis

May 7, 2009

First Round at Metro State in Denver, Colo.

Colorado State-Pueblo 6, Mesa State 2

Doubles:

• 1. Jordan Chomko/Nick Provenza (Mesa State) def. Ricardo Oaxaca/Beau Fresquez, 8-2
• 2. Andres Morales/Philipp Penkatzki (CSU-Pueblo) def. Rashad Khamis/Niko Carrizo, 8-3
• 3. Andrew Rogers/Anthony Breitenbach (CSU-Pueblo) def. Kevin Nydam/Willie Keller, 8-8 (8-6)

Singles:

• 1. Jordan Chomko (Mesa State) def. Philipp Penkatzki, 6-3, 6-0
• 2. DNF
• 3. Beau Fresquez (CSU-Pueblo) def. Nick Provenza, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
• 4. Andres Morales (CSU-Pueblo) def. Kevin Nydam, 6-3, 6-4
• 5. Anthony Breitenbach (CSU-Pueblo) def. Niko Carrizo, 6-2, 7-5
• 6. Andrew Rogers (CSU-Pueblo) def. Willie Keller, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)