April 18, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Senior Djordje Uskokovic earned his second Missouri Valley Conference men's tennis Player of the Week on Tuesday. Uskokovic garnered the award by completing a flawless weekend against Wichita State and Missouri State, propelling Illinois State (13-6, 5-0) to their ninth and tenth consecutive team wins.
At the No. 4 singles position, the senior topped Augusto Alvarado of Wichita State 6-0, 6-4 and then went on to defeat Marcos Queiroz of Missouri State, 6-3, 5-6, 10-6. Uskokovic tallied his ninth and tenth consecutive singles wins and now owns an 18-4 record.
In doubles, Uskokovic managed to take both his doubles matches with teammate Nuno Jacinto at the No. 2 position. The duo took out Tiago Espirito Santo and Thiago Dos Santos of Wichita State, 8-3, and then Jeff Stone and Nenad Curcic of Missouri State, 8-6. In both matches, they were one of two doubles teams for Illinois State to win, which awarded Illinois State the doubles match point. Uskokovic and Jacinto are now on a three-match win streak in doubles and have won four of five doubles matches in Valley play.
The four points that Uskokovic earned for the Redbirds over the weekend propelled the squad to win two victories on the road and allowed Illinois State to continue their undefeated streak in the Valley and extend the `Birds overall win streak.
Uskokovic and the rest of the ISU men's tennis team will be back in action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 at Indiana State.
