Jason Smit made Illinois State mens tennis history Sunday as he became the all-time leader in doubles wins passing Mike Miller with 82. The Illinois State mens tennis team (11-8, 4-1) also won their fourth straight match by defeating Creighton 7-0 (5-12, 1-3) at the Hanscom Tennis Courts in Omaha, Neb.
On his record setting day, Smit teamed with Ciaran Foley in the No. 2 doubles position to beat Tom McCarthy and Eduardo Pignatari, 8-1. The No. 1 doubles team of Djordje Uskokovic and Ben Pettinari also held down their position beating Kevin Otto and Vince Meens, 8-3. To complete the doubles sweep, Andy Martin and Marek Blaskovic defeated Richard Gonzalez and Randy Schwartz, 8-0.
In singles action the Redbirds performed so effectively that they did not drop a set. In the No. 1 position, Ben Cappuccitti defeated Otto, 6-3, 6-3. Playing in the No. 2 singles spot, Smit defeated McCarthy 6-2, 6-2. Uskokovic took the No. 3 point by defeating Meens 6-2, 6-3. Blaskovic was victorious in the No. 4 spot over Creightons Pignatari, 6-1, 6-2. In the No. 5 position, Pettinari overcame Gonzalez 6-1, 6-1. Foley did not even drop a game in his match as he won in the No. 6 spot over Evan Kimura, 6-0, 6-0.
Coach Greg Kennett feels that the team is playing their best tennis at the perfect time in the season.
Our mental errors have been cut down the past two or three weeks, said Kennett. We seem to be peaking at the perfect time as the conference tournament approaches.
The Redbirds will round out their regular season coference schedule with matches against Evansville and Southern Illinois April 18-19 at the McCormick Courts in Normal, Ill.
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