The Illinois State University mens tennis team came off a three week layoff a little rusty in the first day of the RazorRacket Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. Going into the second round of play Saturday, only former Bloomington High School star Oscar Beich, Yohann Nograbat and the team of Guillermo Gomez and Djordje Uskokovic will be playing in the main draws.
The Redbirds played strong in their first round singles matches with four of seven players advancing to the second round. Yohann Nograbat, Uskokovic, Gomez and Beich went into the second round looking to advance, but only Beich survived the second round.
Beich, in only his second tournament of his college career, played a hard fought three set match to move on to the third round of competition. After his opponent withdrew in the first round, Beich defeated Andrew Olswing of Memphis 3-6, 6-1 (10-8) in the second round of play to move on in the Flight B draw.
Head Coach Greg Kennett said Beich was one of the positives on this off day for the Redbirds.
Oscar impressed me today, said Kennett. He fought hard in his match against a good player and that determination is really something that Ive been looking for out of him.
The doubles play by ISU was also a positive on Friday. After two teams received byes in the first round, two other teams needed to get to the second round, and both succeeded. Beich and former BHS teammate Tim Link continued their impressive doubles play as they defeated Andrew Olswing and Alex Jago of Memphis 8-1. Their teammates Alfredo Lagarda and Alban Renard joined them in the second round when they shut down the team of Wessel Kemp and Adam Erlich of Oral Roberts 8-3.
Gomez and Ukokovic were the lone survivors in the second round, beating Bryan Bankster and Mark Finnegan of Memphis 8-5 to move on to the third round. In a strange coincidence, Beich and Link had to face of other their own teammates in the second round. The team had to face Yohann Nograbat, who was playing with Boris Gubic of Wichita State, in second round action with Nograbat and Gubic coming out on top 8-3.
Kennetts believe the three-week layoff may have had something to do with the level of play on Friday.
I was worried about how the layoff would affect us, said Kennett. However, we had some positives today and Im sure the guys will come out strong tomorrow.
The Redbirds will resume action in the third round of both doubles and singles play Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the Dills Indoor Tennis complex and the UA Outdoor Tennis complex in Fayetteville.
###
RazorRacket Invitational Results
First Round
Flight A Singles
Guillermo Gomez (ISU) d. Carlo Contente (WSU) 6-1, 6-3
Alex Jago (UM) d. Alban Renard (ISU) 6-1, 6-4
Tyrone Hill (ORU) d. Alfredo Lagarda (ISU) 6-4, 2-6 (10-7)
Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) d. Cuan Farquharson (ORU) 6-2, 6-3
Flight B Singles
Rodrigo Borgus (SMS) d. Tim Link (ISU) 6-3, 6-4
Yohann Nograbat (ISU) d. Adam Ehrlich (ORU) 6-2, 7-6
Oscar Beich (ISU) d. Patrick Guillod (ORU) withdrew
Doubles
Beich/Link (ISU) d. Olswing/Jago (UM) 8-1
Renard/Lagarda (ISU) d. Kemp/Erlich (ORU) 8-3
Uskokovic/Gomez (ISU) BYE
Nograbat (ISU)/Gubic (WSU) BYE
Second Round
Flight A Singles
Felipe Diaz (OSU) d. Guillermo Gomez (ISU) 6-3, 6-1
Pavel Hanek (SMS) d. Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) 6-4, 7-6
Flight B Singles
Scott Felsenthal (UM) d. Yohann Nograbat (ISU) 6-4, 6-0
Oscar Beich (ISU) d. Andrew Olswing (UM) 3-6, 6-1 (10-8)
Doubles
Uskokovic/Gomez (ISU) d. Finnegan/Bankster (UM) 8-5
Spousta/Hanek (SMS) d. Renard/Lagarda (ISU) 8-5
Nograbat (ISU)/Gubic (WSU) d. Beich/Link (ISU) 8-3
