The Illinois State mens tennis team (2-1, 0-0) had a tough time against No. 49 Notre Dame Sunday, as they lost for the first time this season, 6-1, in South Bend, Ind.
The lone point for the Redbirds came in the doubles competition, as Guillermo Gomez and Alban Renard defeated Ben Hatten and Bobby McNally in the No. 2 spot, 8-6. Ben Cappuccitti and Tim Link were able to clinch the doubles point by defeating Jimmy Bass and Nick Chimerakis in the No. 3 flight, 8-3.
The match against Notre Dame marked the third match in as many days for the Birds, and the wear and tear of the long weekend might have proven to be a factor in the singles competition. Djordje Uskokovic, Yohan Nograbat and Alfredo Lagarda all won their first sets, but would ultimately fall in the third set of each match.
Head coach Greg Kennett is not using the long weekend as an excuse, however, and feels that playing a lot of matches early in the season might actually benefit his team in the long run.
We need as many matches now as we can get so that we are ready for the conference season when it rolls around, Kennett said.
The Birds will next head to the Missouri Valley Individual Championships starting January 30 - February 1.
No. 49 Notre Dame 6, Illinois State 1
Singles
No. 1: Luis Haddock (ND) d. Ben Cappuccitti (ISU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2: No. 68 Matthew Scott (ND) d. Benjamin Pettinari (ISU) 6-3, 6-1
No. 3: Stephen Bass (ND) d. Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
No. 4: Barry King (ND) d. Nogrobat (ISU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
No. 5: Eric Langenkamp (ND) d. Alban Renard (ISU) 6-0, 6-1
No. 6: Patrick Buchanan (ND) d. Alfredo Lagarda (ISU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 5, 1, 2, 4*, 6, 3
Doubles
No. 1: Paul Hidaka/Ryan Keckley (ND) d. Chris Cozad/Pettinari (ISU) 8-3
No. 2: Guillermo Gomez/Renard (ISU) d. Ben Hatten/Bobby McNally (ND) 8-6
No. 3: Cappuccitti/Tim Link (ISU) d. Jimmy Bass/Nick Chimerakis (ND) 8-3
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2*
* denotes clinching match
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