April 28, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's tennis team will ride the coattails of Alban Renard, who was voted to the singles all conference team on Tuesday, as it travels to Omaha, Neb. to take part in the Missouri Valley Conference Team Championships this weekend. The `Birds will face off against Drake on Friday at 11 a.m.
Renard, who has won his last ten matches and compiled a season record of 18-9, which includes going undefeated in the Valley, was voted by the coaches of the conference to the All-Valley-Team at the No. 6 position. Renard is no stranger to high profile accolades, as a freshman at Tyler Junior College he was an ITA All-American after leading the college to the NJCAA Championship in 2003.
The Redbirds, who finished the season 9-10 overall and 3-4 in the Valley, received the fifth seed in the tournament and will face fourth seed Drake (8-8, 3-4). The Bulldogs took the regular season meeting between the teams, by downing the `Birds, 4-3 in Des Moines. Despite winning the doubles point in the first meeting, the `Birds lost the No. 1 through the No. 4 singles positions to take the loss.
