March 4, 2011
Results in PDF Format
URBANA, Ill.. - For the second time in consecutive years, the Illinois State men's tennis team fell to the No. 4 nationally-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, 6-1, Friday evening at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana, Ill.
Tuomas Manner was the only Redbird to capture a victory Friday, defeating Illinois' Bruno Abdelnour in straight-sets on the No. 5 singles court, 7-5, 6-2.
For only the second time in 11 matches this spring season, Illinois State was unable to capture the doubles point. Timon Reichelt and Alexander Pelaez fell to Stephen Hoh and Connor Roth on the No. 1 court, 8-5. Manner and Matej Zlatkovic were ousted by Ablednour and Abe Souza on the No. 2 court, 8-6, while Filip Miljevic and Mya Smith-Dennis lost to Brian Alden and Johnny Hamul in a tight match on the No. 3 court, 9-8.
Aside from Manner's victory, the Redbirds struggled in singles play. Reichelt fell to Hamul on the No. 1 court, 6-4, 7-6, while Pelaez was dropped in three sets by Roy Kalmanovich on the No. 2 court, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. On the No. 3 court, Miljevic fell to Souza, 6-3, 6-4, while Zlatkovic was bested by Hoh in straight-sets on the No. 4 court, 6-3, 7-5. Juan Varon also fell in singles, losing to Roth in straight-sets, 6-3, 6-2.
Despite the outcome, head coach Cris James feels his team still had chances to capitalize on some opportunities.
"I think we probably just fell to a better team," James said. "I don't think that it was a huge difference. We had great opportunities in a lot of the matches. I told our guys when you have confidence like they do, you don't question yourself, you just keep playing your game. They were very good with that, and kept that consistency throughout the match."
ISU hits the road next week to take on Georgia State and Georgia Tech, and James feels moving to outdoor courts may be a bit of a change for his team.
"I think it's an opportunity to transition to outdoor tennis," James said. "It's not an easy move. I don't know how we'll be, but we know we need to compete hard and hopefully we'll get the results we're looking for."
ISU will take on Georgia State Mar. 9 and Georgia Tech Mar. 10.
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