By Andrew Hartley (@andrewhart1ey) – Spear Reporter
San Jose State tennis team huddled up before beginning singles play on April 12, 2024. I Photo by Andrew Hartley – The Spear
San Jose State tennis ended the regular season with 13 wins. The most since the team won the Mountain West tournament three years ago. Of course, it was tasked with playing three of the only teams it lost to during the regular season in this year’s conference tournament.
After two comeback wins, the eighth-seeded Spartans’ (15-8, 4-5 MW) luck would run out and eventually lose to UNLV (16-5, 7-2 MW) Friday night 4-0.
The doubles pairings were uncharacteristically changed in the most important game of the season. Jovana Babic was paired with Rozalina Youseva and Carolina Millan was paired with Olaya Bances Iglesias. It had been customary for Babic to play with Millan and Youseva to pair with Bances Iglesias.
Both these pairings would lose their matches giving UNLV a quick 1-0 lead.
Singles play showed more domination for the Rebels. Three more points were allotted to them with Cheuk Ying Shek being the only Spartan to win a set for the team. Victorious in just one of the nine completed sets. Half of the roster will now be departing due to graduation now that the season has ended.
”They set the standard for this program moving forward,” SJSU head coach Chad Skorupka said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Departing the team are Irena Muradyan, Millan, Babic and Youseva. Muradyan and Millan earned All-Conference honors this season for their efforts in singles play. All but Millan attended SJSU for the entirety of their collegiate careers.
Despite half of the team moving on to new ventures, there’s still much to be excited about. Ying Shek, the Mountain West Freshman of the Year, remains with fellow freshman Duru Durgun. Durgun ultimately won the final point against Boise State to advance SJSU past the first round.
San Jose State’s 15 wins ties the most wins the program has had in the last decade.
”San Jose State is tough to beat. Chad (Skorupka) has built a really good program over there,” UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said.