For the third consecutive time the final score of the Illinois State mens tennis match came down to a, 4-3 outcome. Due to the stellar play of freshman Luka Marinkovic the Redbirds beat Northern Illinois for the first time since 2001. Play was held Saturday at the Evergreen Racquet Club.
Marinkovic teamed up with Guillermo Gomez at the No. 2 doubles position, together they downed the team of Erik Martinez and Mark Tate, 9-7. Their match was the deciding factor for the Birds in capturing the all important doubles point.
Head coach Greg Kennett realized that Gomez didnt have his best day and was glad Marinkovic was there to back him up.
Guillermo was struggling today and didnt really have his game with him, Kennett said. However, Luka was able to keep the match together and pulled out the win for them.
Marinkovic also sparked the Redbirds with a win at the No. 3 singles position by downing Tate, (6-2, 6-0).
Kennett was thrilled to see Marinkovic play well after being in a slump the last few matches.
Luka has been struggling lately, Kennett said. It was great to see him come out and play solid tennis for us.
In other singles action, team leader Djorde Uskokovic struggled at the No. 1 position falling to Willy Gali (6-3, 6-1). At the No. 5 spot Alfredo Lagarda won his seventh match of the spring season beating Adam Ford, (7-5, 6-0). Alaban Renard played at the No. 6 position and dropped Diego Zegara-Ballon in straight sets, (7-5, 6-0).
Rounding out doubles play, Uskokovic teamed up with senior Ben Pettinari at the No. 1 position downing Willy Gali and Alex Friesen 9-7. At the No. 3 position Tim Link and Oscar Beich fell to Adam Ford and Diego Zegara-Ballon, 8-4.
The Rebirds will be back in action on Feb. 20, at the Evergreen Racquet Club when they face Western Michigan at 12:00 p.m.
