After winning its last three matches in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Illinois State mens tennis team is looking to continue its winning ways this weekend at the Valley Team Championships in Springfield, Missouri.
The Redbirds (12-10 overall, 7-2 MVC), who tied for second in the Valley with Wichita State, are the No. 3 seed and will battle the No. 6 seed Creighton in the first round on Friday, April 26, at 12 p.m.
Leading the way for the Redbirds will be junior Marek Blaskovic and senior Ricky Heath.
Blaskovic has won eight of nine matches in Valley play at No. 6 singles to improve his spring record to 15-10. In addition, he and teammate Ciaran Foley have won seven of their last eight matches at No. 3 doubles and are 7-1 on the spring.
Heath has won 10 of his last 11 matches (eight in the Valley) at No. 1 and No. 2 singles to improve his spring record to 17-7. Further, Heath and teammate Ben Pettinari have won four of their last six matches at No. 1 doubles to improve to 5-4 on the spring.
Although the Redbirds defeated the Bluejays 6-1 earlier this season, they will have to be at their best on Friday. Creighton finished the regular season with a record of 11-10 in dual match play and 4-5 in the Valley.
