Jan. 28, 2007
DES MOINES, Iowa -
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The Illinois State men's tennis team took home three titles from the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships Sunday. Daniel Tobar took home two titles at No. 7 singles and another with teammate Nuno Jacinto in Flight 2 doubles. Luka Marinkovic took the title at No. 5 singles giving the `Birds 3 individual crowns.
Marinkovic set the pace, winning the first title of the day in Flight 5 by defeating Wichita State's Albert Ballesta 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. This is Marinkovic's second consecutive title in two years. At No. 5, Daniel Tobar took home the second title for Illinois State downing Drake's, Halvar Dill 7-6, 2-6, 6-1.
After claiming two singles crowns, the Flight 2 and 3 doubles titles were at stake. Marinkovic and Oscar Beich's match finished first at No. 3. The Redbird duo was defeated by Thiago Dos Santos and Albert Ballesta of Wichita State, 8-5. After loosing at No. 3, the pressure was on Tobar and Jacinot to gain the No. 2 doubles title.
Tobar and Jacinto came out on top in a tight, 8-6 win over Hugo Vidal and Karl Nilsson of Southern Illinois. This win gave the Redbirds three titles to take home from the MVC Individuals.
Competing for the Redbirds in constellation brackets after being defeated earlier in the weekend, Yohann Nograbat and Michael Hobson won their consolation bracket at No. 1 and 7, respectively.
The `Birds will take to the road again Friday and Saturday. Feb. 2, the `Birds will take on Texas-Arlington at 10 a.m. and on Feb. 3, Southern Methodist University at 12 p.m.
