Sophomore Alfredo Lagarda won in convincing fashion at the No. 5 singles position Sunday to lead the Illinois State men's tennis team to a 4-3 win over Tyler Junior College. The Apache were the 2004 Junior College National Champions.
The close match provided exciting competition in the lower seed matches where Lagarda downed Brent Hunter in straight sets, (6-1, 6-2).
Head coach Greg Kennett was pleased to see Lagarda play so well after struggling of late.
"Alfredo played very well today," said Kennett. "He played very relaxed and under control. He fought very hard."
In other singles action, Djordje Uskokovic lost for the second consecutive time at the No. 1 position falling to Marcus Lunt, (5-7, 6-0, 6-0). At the No. 2 spot, Guillermo Gomez lost to Guillaume Tonelli in straight sets, (6-3, 6-2). Luka Marinkovic lost at the No. 3 position to Javier Herrera, (7-6, 4-6, 6-1). Yohann Nograbat won at the No. 4 position over Connor Smith, (6-0, 6-2). At the No. 6, position Alban Renard dropped Justin Wimpee, (6-3, 6-2).
Despite losing three singles matches, Kennett thought the 'Birds fought well especially low in the line-up.
"I really have mixed results about the way we played today," said Kennett. "We played great down low, but I am disappointed in the way our top guys performed."
In doubles action, Uskokovic and Ben Pettinari teamed up and lost to Herrera and Hunt at the No. 1 position, (8-5). At the No. 2 spot, Gomez and Renard paired up and dropped Manuel Gonzalez and Tonelli, (8-6). Oscar Biech and Luka Marinkovic teamed up at the No. 3 spot and beat Smith and Wimpee, (8-5).
The Redbirds will be back in action March 15, when they play Montana State at 12 p.m. in Dallas, Texas.
