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April 21, 2007
DES MOINES, Iowa - -
Luka Marinkovic and Daniel Tobar gained the only win for the Illinois State men's tennis team at No. 2 doubles as the Redbirds lost their final 2007 regular season Missouri Valley Conference match to nationally ranked Drake, 7-0, at the Drake Tennis Center in Des Moines, Iowa Saturday.
The loss for the Redbirds (12-7, 5-1) ends their six-match win streak and perfect mark in the Valley, while Drake (20-2, 5-0) continues its 19-match win streak and almost ensures the Bulldogs' the regular season conference title.
Despite the loss, head coach Greg Kennett is optimistic knowing that this is not the `Birds final match and have another opportunity to face Drake at the MVC tournament next weekend.
"I am disappointed that we didn't win but we actually played pretty well," said Kennett. In the end I think that we left encouraged and now know that we can actually beat this team. We just need to play a little better. On a neutral court, I think that we will have a better chance."
No. 51 Drake had the early advantage as they won the doubles point at Nos. 1 and 3. Marinkovic and Tobar gained ISU's lone victory and improved upon their 8-0 mark at No. 2 doubles. The duo defeated the Bulldogs', Sergi Vila and Ivan Mendoza, 8-3.
"We had the opportunity to win the doubles point and take control of the match and we didn't get that done, that was the disappointing part of the entire match," said Kennett. "They had a great crowd and if we can get away from all of that and play on a neutral court, we can definitely beat them."
The Redbirds were never able to grasp the lead and were defeated in all six singles positions. Xavier Riart-Ferrer, Marinkovic, and Oscar Beich lost their respective matches at, Nos. 5, 3, and 6. Tobar put up a three match set at No. 4 against Guilherme Marsiglia, but lost 3-6, 6-2, 2-6.
Seniors and top doubles duo, Yohann Nograbat and Alfredo Lagarda, lost their respective singles matches at Nos. 1 and 2, but did not go down without a fight. Lagarda forced Sergi Vila into a tie breaker, 6-1, 7-6 (3) and Nograbat put up a thee match set against Maor Zirkin, 1-6, 7-5, 1-6.
"I thought our top four (Nograbat, Lagarda, Marinkovic, and Tobar) played well today," said Kennett. "We made a lot of errors at five and six and need to start playing better. Yohann and Alfredo really fought and it was unfortunate that Alfredo started cramping in the second set because I think that he really could have won that set otherwise."
The Redbirds will return to the courts Friday, April 27 at the State Farm MVC championships, where the `Birds will look to win the tournament and qualify for the NCAA Regional Championships. Creighton will host the Valley tournament in Omaha, Neb.
