By John Martin
SDSU PHOTO
This past spring, Aztec Silvia Tornier (2000-03) was honored by the Mountain West Conference as a member of its All-25 Year Women’s Tennis Team.
“Silvia Tornier ranks as one of the best players ever to be a part of San Diego State Women’s tennis,” said Aztec Coach Peter Mattera.
“She played the very difficult # 1 position for nearly all of her matches here, and was a virtual lock at that position, which really helps the team immensely in winning matches.”
Tornier was Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003 and won all-conference praise in both singles and doubles from 2001 through 2003.
The winner of two conference Player of the Week awards in 2002, Tornier also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-Mountain West honors twice and was an ITA Scholar Athlete and an Academic All-American in 2003.
“This is such a great honor, and it brings a big smile to my face. Being rewarded after so many years means a lot to me.” Tornier told Aztec Tennis Reporter.
A review of San Diego State Athletic Department records showed Tornier ranks third (minimum of 75 matches). Her career winning percentage is 71.0%.
“I will never forget the wonderful times I had in San Diego with Peter and the team, who made me feel at home, and I always look back with a lot of joy and thankfulness. After a ten-year break from tennis, I started playing matches again for my youth club here in Hamburg last year.”
Tornier has two of the top ten singles seasons in school history and her 2002 campaign ranks as the third best singles winning percentage (78.1%) in a season.
In doubles, Tornier set records with Indra Erichsen in career winning percentage (since 1994, minimum of 20 decisions) with an 85.7% mark, victories in a season with 26 and season winning percentage with a perfect 10-0 record in 2002.
“She and Indra were an incredible doubles team. They fed off each other’s games and personalities, which is so key in doubles success. These players will go down as two of the All-time greats in Aztec Women’s Tennis. Silvia and Indra are really wonderful people, they made San Diego State better in many ways, and have gone on to spread the SDSU message throughout the world. I am very proud to have been their coach!” Mattera said.
SDSU Athletic Department records place Tornier and Erichsen atop two individual doubles leaderboards in career win percentage with 72.5% and 26 doubles victories in a single season.