Djordje Uskokovic helped snap the Illinois State mens tennis teams (3-4, 0-0) four match losing streak by picking up wins in both the singles and doubles competitions, as the Redbirds defeated Marquette, 6-1, Sunday, at the Evergreen Racquet Club, in Bloomington, Ill.
Uskokovic teamed up with Ben Pettinari to take the No. 1 doubles position by defeating Eigis Vedrickas and Hugo Leenders, 8-6. He then went on to beat Vedrickas in the No. 2 singles spot, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Uskokovic was not the only Redbird who had a successful afternoon, however, as theBirds won five out of six singles matches.
Head coach Greg Kennett was pleased with his teams performance after falling in four straight matches to ranked teams.
I think that when you play tougher teams you get a better understanding of how to fight through tough situtiaons during matches, Kennett said. I feel that we are getting close to where we want to be as conference play approaches.
The Birds will open their conference schedule against Bradley, February 29, at the Evergreen Racquetclub, in Bloomington, Ill.
Illinois State 6, Marquette 1
Doubles
No. 1 Uskokovic/ Pettinari (ISU) over Vedrickas/ Leenders (Marquette) 8-6
No. 2 Delmege/ Macy (Marquette) over Renard/ Gomez (ISU) 8-5
No. 3 Nograbat/ Link (ISU) over Kawas/ Servoss (Marquette) 8-0
Singles
No. 1 Hugo Leenders (Marquette) over Ben Pettinari (ISU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) over Eigis Verdrickas (Marquette) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
No. 3 Yohann Nograbat (ISU) over Troy Delmege (Marquette) 6-3, 6-4
No. 4 Alban Renard (ISU) over Creighton Macy (Marquette) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
No. 5 Guillermo Gomez (ISU) over Ian Kawas (Marquette) 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 Alfredo Lagarda (ISU) over Ricky Servoss (Marquette) 6-0, 6-3
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