Marek Blaskovic, Ben Cappuccitti, Emanuel Ponce, Ciaran Foley, and Ben Pettinari may play in the No. 3 through 6 positions, but Illinois state was undefeated in those positions as they carried the Redbirds to vicotries over DePaul, 5-2, and bitter conference rival Bradley, 6-1, today in Peoria, Ill.
In the first match of the afternoon the Birds faced off against DePaul. Playing in the No. 1 spot Andy Michael of DePaul beat Djordje Uskokovic 7-6, 3-6 (10-4). Robert Kotrooczo beat Redbird Jason Smit 3-6, 7-5 (10-3) in the No. 2 position. Marek Blaskovic won in the No. 3 position over DePauls Sam Davidson 7-5, 6-1. Cappuccitti played in the No. 4 spot and defeated Will Wang 6-1, 6-4. Ponce routed Michael Fessler 6-0, 6-1, and Foley won the No. 6 position by default.
In doubles competition, Smit and Foley won the No. 1 spot over Kotroczo and Davidson 8-0. Uskokovic and and Pettinari teamed up to beat Michael and Wang in the No. 2 position 8-4. In the final doubles pairing Blaskovic and Martin beat Fessler and Peters 8-1.
The second match of the day saw the Birds face off against Missouri Valley rival Bradley. Marko Marevic beat Uskokovic in the No. 1 spot 7-6, 6-2, but it would be the only match that the Birds would lose to Bradley. Smit held down the No. 2 position over Mark Muskievicz 6-1, 6-1. Blaskovic played in the No. 3 position and defeated Paul Craigen 6-3, 6-0. Cappuccitti beat Radek Guzik 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 4 spot. Playing in the No. 5 position Pettinari beat Radek Guzik 3-6, 6-0 (10-3) in a hard fought match. Foley made quick work of Mike Robuck 6-0, 6-0 in the No. 6 position.
In doubles action Uskokovic and Pettinari won the No. 1 doubles match over Marevic and Guzik 8-6. In the No. 2 spot Smit and Foley defeated Craigen and Robuck 8-6, and in theNo. 3 position Blaskovic and Andy Martin beat Muskievicz and Panzic 8-6.
Coach Greg Kennett was very pleased with the way his team performed.
I knew it was going to be a long day today, but we played well all day and got two great victories, said Kennett.
The 'Birds next face Western Michigan, March 1 at the Evergreen Raquetclub in Bloomington, Ill.
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