Head coach Greg Kennett was expecting his team to play well on the first day of the Ball State Invitational, but was pleasantly surprised when 5 of his 7 singles players made it through the first two rounds of action on Friday in Muncie, Ind.
Djordje Uskokovic, Alfredo Lagarda, Guillermo Gomez, former Bloomington High School star Oscar Beich and Yohann Nograbat all advanced to the third round in each of their respective flights. In addition, Alban Renard won his first round match before falling in his second round match.
Uskokovic had to fight hard in his second round match in order to advance to the third round of A Flight singles by defeating Mark Tate of Northern Illinois 3-6, 6-2, 10-6. In B Flight action, both Guillermo Gomez and Alfredo Lagarda advanced to the third round after straight set victories in second round action. Gomez defeated fellow Missouri Valley conference player Mark Muskievicz of Bradley 6-3, 6-1. Lagarda defeated Adam Ford of Northern Illinois 6-2, 6-0.
Beich, a freshman, played his first collegiate matches Friday and won both in the C Flight. He defeated Eric Breitenbach of Butler 7-6 (5), 2-6, 10-8 in first round play and played stronger tennis in the second round as he defeated Brian Savino of Wright State 6-2, 6-3.
Beich also advanced to the quarterfinals of doubles play with former BHS teammate Tim Link, reuniting the team that placed second in state in 2003 while at BHS. In addition, the Redbirds other two doubles teams of Uskokovic/Gomez and Lagarda/Renard also advanced in their respective flights.
Overall, the Birds won 11 of their 13 first and second round singles matches and 7 of 8 first and second round doubles matches.
Coach Kennett believes this first day of action may have been the best in team history at the tournament.
When you have as many guys win and play well like we did today, you have to be excited, Kennett said. Overall, it was a tremendous day, probably one of our best ever here, and we are looking forward to tomorrow.
The Birds will resume play at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Courts and Woodworth Tennis courts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for third round and quarterfinal action.
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Tounament Results
First Round Singles
Flight A: Alban Renard (ISU) d. Eric Winn (Cleveland St.) 6-4, 6-4
Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) d. Landry Nzudie (IPFW) 6-1, 6-3
Flight B: Guillermo Gomez (ISU) d. Brad Rhodes (Ball St.) 6-2, 6-2
Alfredo Lagarda (ISU) d. Kevin Teufel (Wright St.) 6-1, 6-0
Flight C: Oscar Beich (ISU) d. Eric Breitenbach (Butler) 7-6 (5), 2-6; 10-8
Jan Polhamus (ISU) d. Tim Link (ISU) 6-2, 6-0
Flight D: Yohann Nograbat (ISU) d. Tyler Saunders (Wright St.) 6-0, 6-0
Second Round Singles
Flight A: Matt Laramore (Ball St.) d. Alban Renard (ISU) 6-3, 6-2
Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) d. Mark Tate (Northern Illinois) 3-6, 6-1; 10-6
Flight B: Guillermo Gomez (ISU) d. Mark Muskievicz (Bradley) 6-3, 6-1
Alfredo Lagarda (ISU) d. Adam Ford (Northern Illinois) 6-2, 6-0
Flight C: Oscar Beich (ISU) d. Brian Savino (Wright St.) 6-2, 6-3
Flight D: Paul Craigen (Bradley) d. Yohann Nograbat (ISU) 3-6, 7-5; 10-0
Consolation
Flight C: Tim Link (ISU) d. Dave Bukowski (Valparaiso) 6-3, 7-5
First Round Doubles
Flight A: Gomez/Uskokovic (ISU) d. Kennedy/Naughton (Louisville) 8-6
Flight B: Lagarda/Renard (ISU) d. Lofgren/Miskulin (Bradley) 9-8
Flight C: Beich/Link (ISU) d. Jackson/Mitson (IPFW) 8-1
Flight D: Nograbat (ISU)/Doh d. Clark/Zegerra-Ballon Burga (Indiana St.) 8-1
Second Round Doubles
Flight A: Gomez/Uskokovic (ISU) d. Gomez/Tran (Toledo) 8-5
Flight B: Lagarda/Renard (ISU) d. Bukowski/Shideler (Valparaiso) 8-6
Flight C: Beich/Link (ISU) d. Polhamus/Rhodes (Ball St.) Wo (injury)
Flight D: Bordow/ West d. Nograbat (ISU)/Doh 9-7
