March 20, 2009
Results
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State men's tennis team held on to its perfect home-match record, as the Redbirds defeated Butler, 5-2, Friday, at the Gregory Street Tennis Courts. The Redbirds won the doubles point and four-out-of-six singles matches. Senior Daniel Tobar and junior Michael Hobson each won three-set singles matches to help secure the team victory. Illinois State is now 4-0 at home, while improving its season record to 4-8.
In doubles play, Skip Span and Filip Miljevic defeated Chris Herron and Zach Ervin, 8-3, at the No. 1 position, while the duo of Tobar and Micah LeMoine outplayed Brandon Bayliss and Stephen McLoughlin, 8-5, in No. 3 doubles.
In a thrilling singles competition, the Redbirds took the lead over Butler as Tobar defeated Ervin, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, in No. 4 singles, and Hobson battled against McLoughlin at the No. 5 spot, winning, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. At the No. 2 slot, Span beat Herron, 6-4, 6-1. Miljevic ended the match with a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4, victory over Brandon Bayliss in No. 3 singles.
"This was the first match that has felt `right' in a while," said head coach Cris James. "Everything came together. We had great energy with all six guys competing hard at every position. It felt that they were playing for each other.
"This was the second match in a row that we've won the doubles point. Each doubles team has been stepping up and playing competitively. If we compete the way we did against Butler, we have a good chance of getting the same result with Northern Illinois on Saturday; they are similar teams."
The Redbirds host Northern Illinois, Saturday, at 1 p.m., at the Gregory Street Tennis Courts in Normal, Ill. This will mark the team's final non-conference match of the season.
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