Feb. 17, 2008
Results
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -
Sophomore Michael Hobson surrendered only one point in his singles and doubles matches as the Illinois State men's tennis team swept Chicago State, 7-0, Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Ill. With the win Illinois State improved to 4-3 on the season.
Hobson was the first Redbird to finish in both doubles and singles as he quickly disposed of his opponents. In singles, Hobson beat Aumir Ahmad at the No. 6 position, 6-1, 6-0. In doubles, Hobson and junior Daniel Tobar were part of a new doubles lineup that had the pair playing together for the first time this season. The duo defeated Toni Todoric and Ahmad at the No. 3 position, 8-0.
Illinois State's rearranged doubles lineup paid off as they claimed all three doubles matches.
Also playing together for the first time this season, Seniors Luka Marinkovic and Oscar Beich rallied from a 5-4 deficit to defeat Imanuel Prakaso and Imanuel Prabowo in the No. 1 flight, 8-7. The only mainstay in the Redbirds' doubles lineup, junior Nuno Jacinto and sophomore Xavier Riart-Ferrer, defeated Jonathan Sutjiadi and Cameron Shanklin at the No. 2 position, 8-4.
"I was looking to shake it up a little and wake the players up," said head coach Cris James on his philosophy with the lineup change. "We have had some success with the old lineup, but we had not been playing very well recently in doubles. There are a few things that we want to try with regards to the lineup to make sure that when conference play arrives, we have our best possible lineup on the court competing for the doubles point."
In singles, Illinois State was able to take advantage of a couple of Cougar injuries in route to claiming all six matches.
Beich was originally slated to face Sutjiadi in his No. 3 match, but Sutjiadi sustained an arm injury during doubles play. Beich had a 6-3, 4-0, lead on Sutjiadi's replacement, Abram Mamahit, when Mamahit retired due to an arm injury as well.
Playing at the No. 1 position for the second consecutive day, Jacinto bested Prakoso, 6-2, 6-3. In flight No. 2, Marinkovic defeated Prabowo, 6-1, 6-4. At the No. 4 spot, Riart-Ferrer topped Todoric, 6-1, 6-2. Tobar claimed a victory for the Redbirds at the No. 5 spot by defeating Shanklin, 6-1, 6-2.
The Redbirds remain at home next weekend as they host Eastern Illinois Friday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m., and Western Illinois Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1:30 p.m. Both matches will be held at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Ill.
