Guillermo Gomez defeated Diego Campello in the No. 6 position, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, but it was not enough, as the Illinois State mens tennis team (2-3, 0-0) fell to No. 66 Western Michigan (7-2, 0-0), 6-1, Friday, at the West Hills Athletic Club, in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Gomez had not played a singles match since he lost in the finals of Flight No. 7 at the Valley Individual Championships on Jan. 31, but he made the most of his opprotunity.
Gomez did a great job today, and played very hard against a very solid opponent, Kennett said.
Gomezs fellow Birds did not fair as well, however, as Ben Cappuccitti was the only other Redbird who was able to pick up a set.
The Rebirds return to action Saturday against No. 1 Illinois. It will be the first time the BIrds have faced a No. 1 ranked team in the history of the program. The match is set for 7 p.m., in Champaign, Ill.
Singles
1. Ravi Pathanjali (WMU) def. Benjamin Pettinari (ISU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Tommy Dennis (WMU) def. Ben Cappuccitti (ISU) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6
3. Jose Orozco (WMU) def. Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Brady Crosby (WMU) def. Yohann Nograbat (ISU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Justin Kates (WMU) def. Alban Renard (ISU) 6-3, 7-5
6. Guillermo Gomez (ISU) def. Diego Campello (WMU) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
Doubles
1. Pathanjali/Jeff French (WMU) def. Uskokovic/Pettinari (ISU), 8-3
2. Dennis/Crosby (WMU) def. Cappuccitti/Nograbat (ISU), 8-4
3. Orozco/Dan Grupp (WMU) def. Renard/Gomez (ISU), 9-7
--##--
