Alfredo Lagarda picked up his tenth singles vicotry in eleven tries Friday, but it was not enough to lift the Illinois State mens tennis team (8-11, 4-3) over Southwest Missouri State, as the Redbirds lost 4-3, in Springfield, Mo.
Lagarda won his nineth match in a row over Rishi Garbharran in the No. 4 spot, 6-2, 6-4. The win brought Lagardas singles victory total to 14 on the season.
Despite Lagardas efficiency in his singles match, the Birds inability to seal the doubles point would ultimately determine the outcome of the match.
Djordje Uskokovic and Guillermo Gomez were able to defeat Pavel Hanek and Jiri Spousta in the No. 1 doubles position, but their Redbird teammates would not be so fortunate. The doubles pairings of Ben Pettinari and Yohann Nograbat in the No. 2 spot, and Chris Cozd and Alban Renard in the No. 3 spot both held leads in the early goings of their respective matches, but were unable to close out the match and earn the doubles point for ISU.
Head coach Greg Kennett feels that if the Birds would have been able to seal the doubles point, the outcome of the match might have swung in the favor of the Redbirds.
Losing the doubles point really hurt us, Kennett said. Cozad and Renard should have been able to pick up a win in the No. 3 position for us today.
The loss drops the Redbirds to fifth place in the Missouri Valley Conference, one half a match behind SMS.
The Birds will attempt to get back on track Saturday, against Wichita State, in Wichita, Kan.
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