March 16, 2006
CHARLESTON, S.C. -
The Illinois State men's tennis team won the doubles point and swept all six singles matches en route to a 7-0 victory over Bucknell on Thursday at the Earle Tennis Center on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. ISU extended its win streak to three matches with the win.
"This was a really good start to our matches down here in South Carolina," Illinois State head coach Greg Kennett said. "Our players had good intensity throughout the entire match, and it was really nice to be able to get outside and play."
Luka Marinkovic and Daniel Tobar got the ball rolling with an 8-0 victory in No. 3 doubles and the rest of the `Birds followed suit with Illinois State (6-6) securing the doubles point with an 8-4 win by Alban Renard and Oscar Beich in No. 1 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Djordje Uskokovic and Nuno Jacinto teamed up to claim an 8-4 decision over the Bison, who fell to 3-4 with the loss.
"Our doubles teams looked really good today, and I think we're going to stick with these pairs for a while," Kennett said. "Hopefully we've found the doubles teams that we'll have for the entire spring season."
Renard (No. 2), Jacinto (No. 3), Uskokovic (No. 4) and Beich (No. 5) each won their singles matches, while Yohann Nograbat and Alfredo Lagarda also picked up singles victories at No. 1 and No. 6 singles, respectively.
Tomorrow the `Birds return to the court with a 9 a.m. match against Marquette at the Earle Tennis Center.
"Marquette is a good team and they are kind of one of our rivals," Kennett said. "Tomorrow will definitely be a battle. We're really looking forward to taking it to them and laying it all on the line."
Illinois State 7, Bucknell 0
Doubles
1. Alban Renard/Oscar Beich (ISU) d. Ira Reibeisen/Asher Salam (BU), 8-4
2. Djordje Uskokovic/Nuno Jacinto (ISU) d. John Lashnits/Ryan Sandburg (BU), 8-4
3. Luka Marinkovic/Daniel Tobar (ISU) d. Jonathan Brenner/Daniel Bednarek (BU), 8-0
Singles
1. Yohann Nograbat (ISU) d. Ira Reibeisen (BU), 6-2, 6-4
2. Alban Renard (ISU) d. Matt Pikus (BU), 6-1, 6-0
3. Nuno Jacinto (ISU) d. John Lashnits (BU), 6-2, 6-3
4. Djordje Uskokovic (ISU) d. Daniel Bednarek (BU), 6-0, 6-3
5. Oscar Beich (ISU) d. Ben Young (BU), 6-4, 1-3, ret.
6. Alfredo Lagarda (ISU) d. Benjamin Rosenstock (BU), 6-2, 6-0
