After a lengthy rain delay, the Redbirds began their fall season Friday at the Ball State Invitational.
Ricky Heath, Brent Stephen and Jason Smit competed in Section A of the singles competition. Both Stephen and Smit advanced to the second round, but Heath was defeated in the first round (7-5, 5-7, 6-1) by Chris Varga of Ball State. In the second round, defending champion Andrew Seni of Ball State eliminated Stephen, while Smit defeated Rone Maria of St. Louis (6-3, 3-2 ret.)
Ciaran Foley and Andy Martin competed in Section B of the singles competition. Both advanced past the first round with wins over players from Michigan State and St. Louis. In the second round, David OConnell of Indiana State defeated Foley, but Martin advanced by beating Kevin Burnett of Ball State (7-6(6), 6-3).
Marek Blaskovic and Mike Rubinelli competed in Section C of the singles competition.
With wins over players from Butler and St. Louis, both advanced to the second round. In the second round, Rubinelli advanced by defeating Klint Knable of Ball State (6-2, 6-4), and Blaskovic advanced by defeating Miguel Perez of Western Michigan (6-0, 6-0).
Heath and Foley competed in Section A of the doubles competition, and advanced to the second round by defeating the team from Western Michigan (8-4).
The teams of Smit and Steven, and Martin and Blaskovic competed in Section B of the doubles competition. The team from Northern Illinois eliminated Martin and Blaskovic, while Smit and Steven advanced by defeating the team from Eastern Kentucky (8-2).
Rubinelli and Billy Pfaffinger of Eastern Kentucky competed in Section C of the doubles competition. They advanced by defeating the team from St. Louis (8-4).
