With the match knotted at three points apiece, Djordje Uskokovic took Jiri Spousta to the limit in their No. 1 singles matchup, but lost in a third set tie-breaker, as the Illinois State mens tennis team (8-13, 4-5 MVC) fell to Southwest Missouri State (8-12, 5-4) 4-3, in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Team Championships, Friday, at Bradley Park, in Peoria, Ill.
The key to the match would ultimately be Uskokovics inability to build off the momentum that he gained from blanking Spousta in the second set, as he eventually fell, 5-7, 6-0, 7-6(2).
Things looked good in the early goings for the Redbirds after they took the doubles point. Yohann Nograbat and Ben Pettinari took the No. 2 doubles spot over Nenad Curcic and Fillip Knezevic, 9-7. Alban Renard and Chris Cozad clinched the doubles point for the Birds by defeating Rishi Garharran and Predrag Pavlicic in the No. 3 position, 8-3.
SMS was able to take four out of six singles victories, however, ending the Redbirds chances of their first Valley title in team history.
The Birds did receive solid play from Guillermo Gomez in the No. 5 spot, as he defeated Knezevic, 6-0, 6-7, 7-5, and Renard, who beat Pavlicic in the No. 6 position, 6-2, 7-5. Alfredo Lagarda forced Garbharran to three sets in the No. 4 spot, but fell 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.
The loss was the third straight 4-3 defeat for the Redbirds and eliminates ISU from the Valley Team Championships.
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