Jason Smit and his fellow Redbird mens tennis teammates will represent Illinois State against the best mens tennis players in the country tomorrow at the prequalifying stages of the ITA All-American in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Smit received the highest seed of any of the Redbirds competing in the tournament. He is seeded 90th out of 256 singles competitors, and will be playing his first match of the tournament Friday at 8:00 a.m.
Based on his run to the semifinals of the Ball State Invitational last week and the experience that he gained competing in the ITA All-American last year, coach Greg Kennett expects Smit to fare quite well this weekend in Chattanooga.
Only eight out of 256 singles competitors go from prequalifying to the qualifying stages, said Kennett, but I feel that Smit could do very well this weekend.
Joining Smit at the ITA will be Ben Pettinari, Djordje Uskokovic, and Cirian Foley. Pettinari and Uskokovic will be competing in singles competition, while Foley will team up with Uskokovic in doubles play. Smit and Pettinari will also play in the doubles competition which starts Saturday.
The doubles competition will consist of 128 teams from which eight will advance to the qualifying stages. Last year Smit and former Redbird Ricky Heath advanced to the qualifying stages of the tournament.
Coach Kennett is excited about his teams chances going into this weekend, It will be good to measure ourselves against the best players in the country, said Kennett.
The singles prequalifying stages will run Friday through Sunday, and doubles play will be Saturday and Sunday at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tenn.
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