Jason Smit earned his second-straight singles victory in the No. 2 position with a win over Western Michigans Tom Dennis, 6-2, 6-0, but Illinois State mens tennis (4-4) could not come away with the win, losing 5-2 to No. 58 Western Michigan (12-2), in Bloomington, Saturday.
In other singles action, in the No. 1 position Ravi Pathanjali beat Djordje Uskokovic in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Ryan Maarshalk defeated Marek Blaskovic in the No. 3 spot, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Ben Cappuccitti earned a point for the Redbirds with a win over Erik Lindroos, 7-5, 6-2, in the No. 4 position. Playing the No. 5 spot, Jose Orozco beat Illinois States Ben Pettinari 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, and in the No. 6 position, Justin Kates beat Ciaran Foley 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.
The Birds struggled in doubles competition, losing all three matches to the Broncos. In the No. 1 doubles position, Dan Grupp and Maarshalk defeated Illinois States Uskokovic and Pettinari 8-2. Orozco and Pathanjali defeated Smit and Foley in the No. 2 spot, 9-8 (8-6), and in the No. 3 doubles position, Western Michigans Mike Findling and Dennis were victorious over Andy Martin and Blaskovic, 8-5.
Coach Greg Kennett was not pleased with his teams performance in the doubles competition.
We had no intensity in our doubles matches at all today, said Kennett. We cannot afford to get off to slow starts like that if we expect to beat good teams.
The Birds return to action March 11, at The Citadel.
Doubles
#1--Grupp/ Maarshalk(WMU) defeated Uskokovic/ Pettinari(ISU) 8-2
#2--Orozco/ Pathanjali (WMU) defeated Smit/ Foley (ISU) 9-8 (8-6)
#3--Findling/Dennis (WMU) defeated Martin/ Blaskovic (ISU) 8-5)
Singles
#1--Ravi Pathanjali (WMU) defeated Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) 6-1, 6-2
#2--Jason Smit (ISU) defeated Tom Dennis (WMU) 6-2, 6-0
#3--Ryan Maarshalk (WMU) defeated Marek Blaskovic (ISU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
#4--Ben Cappuccitti (ISU) defeated Erik Lindroos (WMU) 7-5, 6-2
#5--Jose Orozco (WMU) defeated Ben Pettinari (ISU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
#6--Justin Kates (WMU) defeated Ciaran Foley (ISU) 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
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