March 30, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's tennis team kicks off its conference season at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 1, hosting Bradley in their first outdoor match of the season at McCormick courts. ISU (8-6) has high hopes in extending its five-match win streak, while Bradley (4-7) is looking to dig out of a two-match rut.
Illinois State has taken the last six matches against Bradley and under head coach Greg Kennett, the Redbirds have yet to fall to the Braves.
"The last couple of years the rivalry has intensified between us," said Kennett, whose team looks to improve last season's 3-4 Valley record. "When you play Bradley in any sport you want to do well. We are looking forward to the match and I'm sure Bradley is too."
Last fall, ISU had a chance to see what kind of competition Bradley had to offer in the Ball State Invitational. Alfredo Lagarda bested Wil Lofgren of the Braves in the singles B Flight quarter finals, while Yohann Nograbat and Djordje Uskokovic topped BU's Brian Hanus and Alex Robey in the doubles B Flight semifinals. Nograbat and Uskokovic went on to win the B Flight title.
The `Birds haven't exceeded a five-match win streak since the 2002-03 season when ISU swept the conference season and won in the first round match at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships.
Kennett is happy to see where the program is headed.
"The win streak has been great," said Kennett. "We have improved our doubles play and it has definitely brought a lot of confidence to the team. We beat a couple of big rivals during this win streak, rivals that we play every year. Our program is doing well and we are headed in the right direction."
Uskokovic is competing for his sixth consecutive singles win, while Nograbat, Alban Renard, Nuno Jacinto and Luka Marinkovic are all attempting to record their fifth straight singles win.
Earlier this season, doubles was one of Illinois State's greatest weaknesses. Now, Marinkovic and Daniel Tobar are looking for their ninth doubles win. The duo hasn't recorded a loss together all season. Teammates Oscar Beich and Renard are in search of their fifth doubles win in a row.
"I feel really good about the conference season," said Kennett. "This is the best tennis we have played all year and I think we are peaking at the right moment. The team is healthy and excited about the possibilities the rest of the season has to offer."
