April 15, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's tennis team (8-7, 2-1) enters this weekend tied for second place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings behind 3-0 Drake and Indiana State. If the Redbirds want to compete for their first title in school history, it cannot afford to fall further behind. This weekends schedule has the `Birds facing SMS on Saturday at 12 p.m., and competing against Wichita State on Sunday at 10 a.m., both matches will be held at the McCormick Courts.
Team leaders Djordje Uskokovic and Guillermo Gomez will have to play solid tennis in both singles and doubles to lead the `Birds to victory. Last weekend both players failed to win their singles matches against Drake, which led to a 4-3 loss to the league leading Bulldogs. Uskokovic is 13-11 on the season while Gomez has a 17-10 record. Both players have won five of their last six outings.
If play doesn't go as planned at the top of the order, the `Birds always have junior Alban Renard to fall back on at the No. 6 singles position. Renard has a 14-9 singles record this season and has won six in a row with his last loss coming on March 12. Renard is playing the most consistent tennis of late for the Redbirds and must continue to do so in order for the `Birds to win the close matches.
