Jan. 23, 2011
MVC Individuals Final Results in PDF Format 
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Illinois State men's tennis team wrapped up play at the Missouri Valley Conference Individual Championships Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa, with an impressive showing that saw the Redbirds take home four individual titles.
Illinois State's four titles were the most of any team at the MVC Individuals. Additionally, ISU's three singles titles are the most in team history at the tournament.
Sophomore Alexander Pelaez was victorious in the second singles flight, defeating Drake's James McKie, 7-5, 6-3. In the fourth singles flight, senior Filip Miljevic defeated Drake's Anis Ghorbel, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-1. Freshman Tuomas Manner came out on top in the fifth singles flight, defeating Drake's Robert Goodman, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
Manner was also victorious the second doubles flight, teaming with senior Matej Zlaktovic to defeat Wichita State's Guillermo Nicol and Patrick Stiebinger, 8-6. The Redbird duo previously defeated Bradley's Justin Abrams and Ashton Kalhorn, 8-2.
Senior Timon Reichelt fell to Drake's Mauricio Ballivian in the championship of the first singles flight, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. In the finals of first doubles, Reichelt and Pealez fell to Ballivian and Ghorbel of Drake, 8-6, after previously defeating Creighton's J.T. Christian and Billy Paluch in the semifinals, 8-6. In the third doubles flight, Miljevic and freshman Mya Smith-Dennis defeated Creighton's Gabe Nagy and Ryan Norman in the semifinals, 8-3, before falling to Wichita State's David Cavalcanti and Matheus Periera in the final, 8-6.
Overall, head coach Cris James was satisfied with his team's play on the weekend.
"We were pretty good," James said. "I felt we were the best team at the tournament. Obviously we wish we would have capitalized on a few more of our chances, but we didn't really get dominated in any match, and I liked that we battled hard."
Illinois State will take the court again next weekend in Bloomington, Ill., hosting home matches versus UIC and Butler on Saturday, Jan. 29.
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