Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
April 6, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. - -
Junior Luka Marinkovic helped lead the Illinois State men's tennis team to their second Missouri Valley Conference win today as he capture two wins at doubles and singles. The Redbirds downed Southern Illinois in a close, 4-3 decision today at the Evergreen Racquet Club, this moves ISU to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in the Valley.
In an upset in doubles action the Redbirds were unable to grasp the lone doubles point. At one, Yohann Nograbat and teammate Alfredo Lagarda were defeated by SIU's, Felipe Villasenor and Lucas Waked, 8-6. The Salukis secured the doubles point at No. 3 as Rodrigo Lama and Hugo Vidal downed Oscar Beich and Nuno Jacinto, 8-6. Marinkovic and Daniel Tobar garnered ISU's only doubles victory and their third win together at No. 2 defeating Karl Nilsson and Sergio Sanchez, 8-6.
Head coach Greg Kennett was disappointed the team lost the doubles point, but was happy with their performance in singles.
"I was a little surprised that we lost the doubles point especially since we are up so big at No. 3 at once point," said Kennett. "I was disappointed to see that we couldn't keep our lead in doubles, but I was proud of the guys for coming back and winning four matches later in singles."
"Southern Illinois has a talented team and we were able to survive and got the job done," added Kennett.
Heading into singles the `Birds were down 0-1. Nograbat lead the way for his teammates as he downed Vallasenor, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1. Xavier Riart-Ferrer notched a win at No. 5 besting Nick Bauer, 6-4, 6-1. At two, Lagarda dropped his match against Sanchez, 6-3, 6-2, tying the score two-all.
In his first set at No. 4 Marinkovic posted a 7-5 win over Lama. In the second set Marinkovic was up 4-1 when Lama surrenderd the match by defaulting on disorderly conduct, giving Marinkovic the win and putting the `Birds up 3-2. Jacinto secured the win for the Redbirds, posting a 7-5, 7-6 victory over Vidal at No. 3. The score was finalized, 4-3, as Beich fell to SIU's Waked in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 decision.
Southern Illinois falls to 9-5 overall and 0-2 in the MVC.
The Redbirds continue in action at the ERC, Sat. April 7, at 1 p.m. as the squad takes on Indiana State (6-8, 1-0 MVC).
