Feb. 14, 2010
Final Stats
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Illinois State men's tennis team swept Butler, 7-0, Sunday to gain its fifth win of the season. The Redbirds suffered a tough, 4-3, loss to Ball State Saturday, but were able to rebound against Butler for the victory. Matej Zlatkovic won all four of his matches over the weekend, including a pair of doubles matches.
Zlatkovic, along with teammate Timon Reichelt, defeated Butler's Ben Raynauld and Bryce Warren, 8-3, at No. 1 doubles. Zlatkovic and Reichelt have now won 11 of their last 12 doubles matches. Filip Miljevic and Skip Span paired up at No. 2 doubles and beat Lenz Theodor and Stephen McLoughlin, 8-3, to secure the doubles point for the Redbirds.
"When good teams suffer a loss like we did on Saturday, they have to come back more determined to get the win," head coach Cris James said. "The matches are becoming more competitive and we are learning that the little things matter and you have to be playing at a high level all the time to have a chance to win."
Miljevic won his second singles match of the weekend, defeating Chris Herron, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 1 singles. Span also won in straight sets, downing Butler's Theodor, 6-2, 6-3, on the No. 5 singles court.
"I think we had a more determined effort from the players [Sunday]," James said. "It is starting to come together for us and everyone is starting to figure out what it takes to get the job done. We were able to close out our opportunities against Butler, which was a good thing to see."
The Redbirds are now 5-3 this season, and Sunday's victory is the second road win for the men's tennis team.
Illinois State returns to action Sunday, Feb. 21, when the Redbirds travel to James' Alma mater to face the Purdue Boilermakers. The first match is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m., at the Schwartz Tennis Center in West Lafayette, Ind.
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