For the third time in the last four matches, the Illinois State mens tennis team (7-8) earned the doubles point, but it was not enough for them to overcome Texas A & M-Corpus Christi, as the Redbirds fell 5-1 in the championship match of the UCI Anteater Classic, in Irvine, Calif.
Jason Smit and Ciaran Foley won the No. 2 doubles spot over Chris Bergues and Oscar Roman, 8-5. The duo of Ben Cappuccitti and Marek Blaskovic clinched the doubles point in the No. 3 position over Loren Collins and Jeff Oprea, 8-1. In the No. 1 doubles position, Luis Moris and Gonzalo Figueiredo beat Djordje Uskokovic and Ben Pettinari, 8-2.
The Redbirds could not duplicate the success in the singles competition that they had in the doubles matches, however. Playing in the No. 1 position, Burgues defeated Cappuccitti 7-6, 6-4. In the No. 2 spot, Figueirdo overcame Smit, 7-5, 6-7, 2-2 (DNF). Moris took the victory in his match with Uskokovic, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, in the No. 3 position. Plasencia won a close match in the No. 4 spot over Blaskovic 3-6, 7-5, 7-6. In the No. 5 position Collins defeated Pettinari 3-6, 6-6, default. In the final singles spot, Roman defeated Foley in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5.
The Birds next match is against conference foe Witchita State, April 5 at the McCormick Courts, in Normal, Ill.
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