Oct. 21, 2010
Singles Qualifying Results in PDF Format 
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Junior Skip Span and freshman Mya Smith-Dennis finished play in the singles qualifying round at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships Thursday in South Bend, Ind.
Span defeated Northern Illinois' Max Phillips in the first round of qualifying play, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, before falling to Cleveland State's Robert Fox in the second round, 6-3, 6-2.
Head coach Cris James believes that Span's game is dictated by his confidence.
"Skip played pretty well, and controlled a lot of his second match," James said. "He's still trying to get his complete confidence back since his (shoulder) surgery. "He's most of the way there, but still has a little further to go."
Smith-Dennis was defeated in the first round of qualifying play by Marquette's Logan Collins, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Despite the outcome, James was impressed with his freshman.
"I was pretty happy with the way Mya played," James said. "He played a pretty good match. There were a couple of opportunities that he didn't cash in on with some set points. He got down early in the second set and wasn't able to break service."
The Redbirds will again take the court Friday, when the main draws of both singles and doubles begin. Seniors Timon Reichelt, Filip Miljevic, Matej Zlatkovic, and sophomore Alexander Pelaez will be competing in both singles and doubles. Span and Smith-Dennis will also be competing in doubles.
James knows that Friday's matches will challenge his team.
"Every match is going to be tough, because we're playing against the best players in the region," James said. "Hopefully we compete well and find some ways to win."
Play resumes Friday morning at the University of Notre Dame's Eck Tennis Pavilion and Courtney Tennis Center.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
