Playing for the first time in the No. 1 position this season, Ben Cappuccitti won in straight sets over Leonardo Rodriguez, 6-2, 7-6, to help lead the Illinois State mens tennis team past Vincennes 7-0, Friday at the Evergreen Racquet Club, in Bloomington, Ill.
Cappuccitti received a lot of help from his teammates, as the Redbirds did not drop a single set to Vincennes during the match. Djordje Uskokovic won in the No. 2 position over Alican Seren 6-2, 6-4. Jason Smit held down the No. 3 spot with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Matthew Kennedy. Marek Blaskovic was victorious in the No. 4 position over Kyle Taylor, 6-2, 6-1. Playing in the No. 5 position Ciaran Foley defeated Alan Toy 6-1, 6-2, while in the No. 6 spot Ben Pettinari beat Nathan Berkel 6-0, 6-0.
The Birds also had a strong showing in doubles competition. Uskokovic and Pettinari teamed up to beat Rodriguez and Seren 8-4. The duo of Smit and Foley made quick work of Kennedy and Taylor 8-1, and Blaskovic and Cappuccitti rounded out the Redbird sweep with a win over Berkel and Toy 8-1.
Cappuccitti had played most the season in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, but Coach Greg Kennett felt that it was time to shake up the Redbird line-up.
We look for a line-up that has guys playing in positions where they are comfortable, Kennett expressed. Cappuccitti has been wanting to be put into the No.1 position for quite awhile now, so we will see how he responds to the challenge.
The win brought the Birds spring record to 6-5, and served as a tune-up for their match this Sunday with Missouri Valley Conference foe Indiana State. The Birds will take to the courts at approximately 11 a.m. Sunday, in Terre Haute, Ind.
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