The Illinois State mens tennis team (8-12, 4-4 Valley) will get a chance to avenge last Fridays loss to Southwest Missouri State when they face Bears in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Team Championships, April 23-25, in Peoria, Ill.
The Redbirds fell to SMS 4-3, last Friday in a match that would ultimately determine which team earned the higher seed in the tournament. The Birds received the fifth seed because of the loss, while SMS slid into the four spot.
Despite receiving their lowest seed during head coach Greg Kennetts tenure at Illinois State, the Redbirds are optimistic that they have the potential to make a run at ISUs first tournament title in team history.
The Birds fell to each of the teams that are seeded above them, but had strong showings in each match. The Redbirds fell to No. 1 seed Drake 5-2, No. 2 seed Wichita State 4-3, and to No. 3 seed Indiana State 4-3.
Head coach Greg Kennett does not feel that a low seed will affect his teams chances of taking the title.
This is the first year since I have been here that we have no doubt that we can beat every team in the field, Kennett said.
The key to the match with SMS, and possibly the tournament, will be the Birds ability to secure the doubles point. ISU has yet to win a match this season when they have not picked up the doubles point, going 0-8, with three of those loses coming in 4-3 decisions.
Kennett recognizes the affect that winning the doubles point will have on his team.
The whole weekend will come down to whether we can win the doubles point or not, Kennett said. If we can get the point we should be able to win some matches.
The Redbirds first round match with SMS is set to start at noon, Friday at the Bradley Park Tennis Courts in Peoria, Ill.
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