The Illinois State mens tennis team will turn to senior Guillermo Gomez and junior Djordje Uskokovic for intensity as it look for its first win of the spring season in this weekends home matches. The Birds will face Eastern Illinois on Friday at 12:00 p.m. and then will face Missouri-Kansas City on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., both matches are at the Evergreen Racquet Club.
Head coach Greg Kennett expects solid play out of both Gomez and Uskokovic, that were in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions last week, and who teamed up together in the No. 1 doubles position at last weekends loss to Notre Dame.
I am anticipating them both playing very well this weekend, Kennett said. They both had a very good week of practice and should play extremely well.
The Birds have dominated Eastern Illinois in the past, beating them 6-1 last year and shutting them out 7-0 in the 2003-04 season. However Kennett is not allowing his team to look past the Panthers.
We dont take anyone lightly, Kennett said. We have to come out with a certain level of intensity no matter who we are playing.
Alfredo Lagarda who scored the only point for the Redbirds against the Irish looks to add to his win total, and could be used at a higher position than last week.
Lagarda is playing with so much confidence right now, Kennett said. We might play with our lineup this weekend and shift people around. Our team is so deep that the No. 1 thru 6 positions could easily be reversed.
