Feb. 9, 2008
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's tennis team fell 4-3, to Butler (1-7) on Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Butler Bubble. Senior Oscar Beich, sophomore Xavier Riart-Ferrer and freshmen Filip Miljevic each earned singles victories for the `Birds. The loss dropped Illinois State to 1-3 on the season.
Head coach Cris James saw some things the team needs to improve on in the loss.
"I thought we played rather mediocre," said James. "We need to play with more confidence. It looked like we were really nervous in doubles. Butler also played really well. Losing that doubles point put us behind the eight-ball for the rest of the match."
In singles, the Redbirds were able to win three of the six matches. Beich won his match at the number three spot against Chris Herron, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. At the number five position, Riart-Ferrer knocked off Brandon Bayliss, 7-6, 2-6, 10-4. The Redbirds' third point on the day came when Miljevic defeated Sam Brown at the number six spot, 6-3, 6-3. Senior Luka Marinkovic lost the number one singles match against Eric Breitenbach, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. At the number two position, junior Nuno Jacinto lost to Ben Raynauld, 7-5, 6-4. Junior Daniel Tobar dropped the number four spot match to Bryce Warren, 7-5, 6-3.
In doubles Illinois State was unable to come away with a victory. Marinkovic and Tobar suffered their first dual match doubles defeat, losing at the one spot, to Breitenbach and Herron, 8-6. Jacinto and Riart-Ferrer lost the number two match to Raynauld and Warren, 8-4. At the three spot, Beich and sophomore Michael Hobson lost to Bayliss and Brown, 8-6.
Illinois State returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 10, in Rockford, Ill. as they take on Northern Illinois. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
