Feb. 10, 2007
Results
NORMAL, Ill. -
In the homestand opener Saturday, the Illinois State men's tennis team won two straight at Evergreen Racquet Club. Senior, Alfredo Lagarda won all four of his match up's giving him a 5-2 mark in singles and 3-1mark in doubles for the season.
Head coach Greg Kennett was impressed once again with Lagarda's solid performance.
"Alfredo really played well," said Kennett. "You have to love it because for a guy who just missed the line up last year is now taking this opportunity and running with it. As a senior he is stepping up, relaxing a little and just going for it."
Kennett was also impressed with how his team handled the matches today. With numerous injuries, the `Birds dug deep for today's wins.
"It is clear that we need everyone on the team," said Kennett. "We have nine guys, one with a broken wrist and some other injuries, it really helps that we have a deep team and we are solid all the way through, one though nine. It is great to be able to have all the guys going into tomorrow."
In the first match of the day Illinois State was victorious over Butler University, downing the Bulldogs 4-3. The afternoon began with doubles and the Redbirds capturing their first point of the day. At No. 2 Nuno Jacinto and Daniel Tobar were the first to finish and were defeated by Butler's Eric Breitenbach and Sandy Berry (8-4). However, Redbirds Oscar Beich and Luka Marinkovic posted an 8-4 win over Evan West and Scott Newmark at No. 3. Alfredo Lagarda and Yohann Nograbat sealed the deal for the `Birds as they rallied together in a tie breaker to defeat James Low and Ben Raynauld 9-8, (7-2).
In singles action, Tobar was the first to capture the win against Butler's Newmark (6-2, 6-4) at No. 6. ISU's Jacinto and Xavier Riart-Ferrer lost the next two points to BU at the No. 3 and 4, tying the score two all. The `Birds pulled ahead as Lagarda downed Ben Raynauld at No. 2 and Beich put up a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Sandy Berry in Flight 5 singles. Nograbat battled for the final point, but ultimately took the loss and was dropped by Low (4-6, 7-5, 4-0 ret.).
Taking the win against Butler the `Birds, now 2-2 faced last years Mid Continent champions Western Illinois. With Nograbat out, due to exhaustion the squad switched up the doubles teams. ISU swept all three doubles matches from the Leathernecks giving the `Birds the lead 1-0.
After taking the first point the `Birds advanced into singles action. Beich gained the second point of the evening for the Redbirds at No. 5 singles defeating Andy Jones (6-2, 6-1). Jacinto posted a 6-2, 6-5 win over Neil Lesinski giving the `Birds a 3-0 lead. Riart-Ferrer secured the lead for the `Birds by taking down Western's Sean Ragee-Nelson at No. 4 singles. Rounding out the night Michael Hobson defeated Michael Tiu (6-0, 4-6, 6-3) at No. 6, Marinkovic bested Justin Junck (5-7, 6-2, 3-2 ret.) and Lagarda took down Martin Bostron (7-5, 2-6, 6-3) at No. 1. Illinois State shut down Western Illinois 7-0.
Kennett feels that the best thing that his team can do to improve is to get in more matches.
"The best thing we can do is play tomorrow," said Kennett. "We had a long day today and to get right back at it is where we are really going to improve. We can practice all we want, but playing out here is where we really improve. It is where we can learn how to handle the pressure and learn what it means to fight for the win. It is great that we are getting right back at it tomorrow."
The squad will continue its homestand rally as they take on Wright State tomorrow Sunday Feb. 11 at the ERC. First match is set to start at 1p.m.
###
Tennis Match Results
Butler University vs. Illinois State
2/10/07 at Evergreen Racquet Club
Illinois State 4, Butler University 3
Singles Competition
No. 1 James Low (BU) def. Yohann Nograbat (ISU) 6-4, 5-7, 4-0 def
No. 2 Alfredo Lagarda (ISU) def. Ben Raynauld (BU) 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 Eric Breintenbach (BU) def. Nuno Jacinto (ISU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 Evan West (BU) def. Xavier Riart-Ferrer (ISU) 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 Oscar Beich (ISU) def. Sandy Berry (BU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 Daniel Tobar (ISU) def. Scott Newmark (BU) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles Competition
No. 1 Lagarda/Nograbat (ISU) def. Low/Raynauld (BU) 9-8, (7-2)
No. 2 Breitenbach/Berry (BU) def. Jacinto/Tobar (ISU) 8-4
No. 3 Beich/Marinkovic (ISU) def. West/Newmark (BU) 8-4
Tennis Match Results
Western Illinois University vs. Illinois State University
2/10/07 at Evergreen Racquet Club
Illinois State 7, Western Illinois 0
Singles Competition
No. 1 Alfredo Lagarda (ISU) def. Martin Boström (WIU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
No. 2 Nuno Jacinto (ISU) def. Neil Lesinski (WIU) 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 Luka Marinkovic (ISU) def. Justin Junck (WIU) 5-7,6-2, 3-2 ret.
No. 4 Xavier Riart-Ferrer (ISU) def. Sean Ragee-Nelson (WIU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 5 Oscar Bich (ISU) def. Andy Jones (WIU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 6 Michael Hobson (ISU) def. Michael Tiu (WIU) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles Competition
No. 1 Lagarda/Beich (ISU) def.Witenberg/Junck (WIU) 8-5
No. 2 Jacinto/Tobar (ISU) def. Boström/Lesinski (WIU) 8-7 (11-9)
No. 3 Marinkovic/ Riart-Ferrer (ISU) def.Frosberg/Tiu (WIU) 8-1
