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Dickhardt Selected to NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship
SDSU senior will team with Christian Groh in doubles draw
May 2, 2007 INDIANAPOLIS - San Diego State senior Markus Dickhardt was selected to the NCAA Singles Championship after earning the Mountain West Conference's automatic qualifier bid, the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Subcommittee announced Wednesday. In addition to being named one of 64 singles players to participate in the national tournament, Dickhardt and classmate Christian Groh were chosen to compete in the 32-team doubles championship. Dickhardt, ranked 43rd in the latest FILA Collegiate Tennis Rankings, completed one of the finest seasons in SDSU history going 25-8 overall and 19-5 in dual matches. During the spring campaign, the senior enjoyed a career-best 15-match winning streak with 13 of them coming at first singles. Dickhardt ended the campaign with a 15-4 mark at the top position and was especially tough against nationally ranked opponents, posting a record of 7-4. The German's stellar season was recognized throughout 2007 as he earned MWC player of the week honors four times, including a streak of three consecutive from the end of March to the first week in April. At the annual conference postseason banquet, Dickhardt was voted MWC player of the year and an all-league singles selection. The four-year letterwinner earned an automatic invitation to the singles tournament as a result of being the highest-ranked player in the conference. Dickhardt becomes the first Aztec since Felix Hardt in 2004 to be awarded a berth in the singles championship. That season, Hardt dropped a 6-4, 7-6 decision to Bo Hodge of Georgia in the round of 64. In doubles, Dickhardt and Groh were invited to the national draw after earning the MWC's automatic bid for the same reason Dickhardt was awarded a singles bid. The duo ended the campaign ranked 32nd and enjoyed a ranking as high as No. 8 after finishing the year 13-7 overall and 9-6 in dual action. Against nationally ranked tandems, Dickhardt-Groh posted a 1-1 record. For their efforts in the conference play, the two were named to the MWC all-doubles team. This is the second straight year in which San Diego State has had a doubles entrant in the tournament. Last year, Dickhardt and Benedikt Stronk advanced to the quarterfinal round en route to earning All-America honors. Both singles and doubles competition will begin May 23-28 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga., hosted by the University of Georgia, following the conclusion of the team championship (May 17-22).
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