Agassi Wins Exhibition Match With Sampras

Andre Agassi jokingly offered racquets to the judges behind the baseline after Pete Sampras’ first ace Saturday, but he ended up with more aces himself in a 7-5, 6-3 exhibition victory at the Rancho Bernardo Inn.

Agassi finished with a 13-9 edge in aces over Sampras, known for his powerful serve, in a rematch of last year’s U.S. Open final. Sampras continued to play despite a pulled Achilles tendon that he sustained in the deciding game of the first set. He said he doesn’t expect the injury will cause him to miss future tournaments.

“I landed hard on my foot when I went for a forehand winner, and I felt it in my lower calf,” said Sampras, the U.S. Open champion. “I don’t know if it’s from running or training too much. It’s unfortunate for it to happen at this time.”

Agassi, who donned his traditional neon garb, lost only six points on his serve in the second set. He recorded six of his aces in winning his first two service games of the set. He then took a 3-1 lead on Sampras’ serve when a long rally ended with an off-target backhand shot by Sampras.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

San Diego State suffered its second Western Athletic Conference defeat in a row on the road, losing 69-58 at Wyoming. The Aztecs shot only 36% from the field; the Cowgirls 35%. But Wyoming, led by Marie Kauffman’s 23 points, sank 10 more free throws (17-7). SDSU (14-13, 6-6) got 21 points from Kieishsha Garnes.

TRACK AND FIELD

Point Loma Nazarene’s Christian Andreasson earned All-American honors by placing third in the triple jump at the NAIA National Indoor Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Andreasson, a junior from Sweden, jumped 50 feet, 2 inches. Michael Silander, a sophomore from Sweden, reached the semifinals, where he placed fourth in the 60-yard dash (6.41). The Crusader men tied for 11th place.

Local athletes dominated women’s open division of the Aztec Track and Field Classic at SDSU’s Choc Sportsman Track, winning five of seven events. Point Loma Nazarene’s Melissa Mabe (800 meters, race one), Sally Sauer (1,500) and Anette Ronnerman (800, race two) all scored victories. SDSU’s Shannon Proffer was first in the 400 intermediate hurdles and Mesa College’s Sorii Epps won the 100. Three other Aztec women--Louise Joubert (javelin), Darla Vaughn (100) and Erica Prodanovich (400 IH)--took first places in the women’s invitational division.