The Illinois State mens tennis team completed its conference season at home Sunday with victories over Wichita State and Southwest Missouri State , bringing the teams conference record to 7-2.
The Redbirds took five of six singles matches against Wichita with Jason Smit battling against Juan Escalante to a close 7-5, 7-5 victory. At No. 5, Albert Piasecki didnt have much trouble taking down Ben Cramp, 6-3, 6-2 while Yew Ming Si crushed Mark Sewell,6-4, 6-0 at the No. 2 spot.
This was an outstanding day for Yew Ming, head coach Greg Kennett said. He is really starting to show his confidence and captured some great wins today.
At No. 2 doubles Smit and Brent Steven flew past Cramp and Gustav Peterson, 8-4 while the doubles duo of Thommas de Liefde and Piasecki defeated Merritt Gaunt and Escalante, 8-5 at the No. 3 position.
Although it was a tough match, the Redbirds managed to take three singles matches and three doubles matches from Southwest Missouri, winning 4-3.
At No. 1 singles junior Ricky Heath toughed it out against Missouris Jan Vanco and came out on top, 6-1,7-5. Yew Ming Si cruised to victory over Leonard Perry 7-6(5), 6-1 at No. 2 while Jason Smit trampled Filip Knezevic, 6-2,6-2 at the No. 3 spot.
No. 1 doubles Heath and Si took down Vanco and Rishe Garbharran, 8-5. At No. 2 Smit and Steven defeated Perry and Matt Streeter, 8-2 while Piasecki and de Liefde fought hard to a 9-8 victory over Knezevic and Sean Kemball, 9-8 at No. 3.
This was a big day for us, Kennett said. We picked up two huge conference wins and managed to tie for 2nd place in the Missouri Valley Conference. Not only did we help ourselves as a team, weve helped the athletic department as a whole.
The Redbirds will spend the week preparing for the Missouri Valley Conference taking place April 27-29 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Illinois State 6 Wichita State 1
1. Mark Mullins (WSU) def. Ricky Heath (ISU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Yew Ming Si (ISU) def. Mark Sewell (WSU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Jason Smit (ISU) def. Juan Escalante (WSU) 7-5, 7-5
4. Brent Steven (ISU) def. Gustav Peterson (WSU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Albert Piasecki (ISU) def. Ben Cramp (WSU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Andy Martin (ISU) def. Marritt Gaunt (WSU) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
1. Mullins/Sewell (WSU) def. Heath/Si (ISU) 9-8
2. Smit/Steven (ISU) def. Cramp/Peterson (WSU) 8-4
3. Thommas de Liefde/Piasecki (ISU) def. Gaunt/Escalante (WSU) 8-5
Illinois State 4 Southwest Missouri State 3
1. Ricky Heath (ISU) def. Jan Vanco (SMS) 6-1, 7-5
2. Yew Ming Si (ISU) def. Leonard Perry (SMS) 7-6(5), 6-1
3. Jason Smit (ISU) def. Filip Knezevic (SMS) 6-2, 6-2
4. Rishe Garbharra (SMS) def. Brent Steven (ISU) 7-5, 7-5
5. Sean Kimball (SMS) def. Albert Piasecki (ISU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
6. Matt Streeter (SMS) def. Thommas de Liefde (ISU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. Heath/Si (ISU) def. Vanco/Garbharra (SMS) 8-5
2. Smit/Steven (ISU) def. Perry/Streeter (SMS) 8-2
3. de Liefde/Piasecki (ISU) def. Knezevic/Kimball (SMS) 8-5
