Feb. 12, 2012
MUNCIE, Ind. -
The Illinois State men's tennis team lost its dual match against Ball State Sunday at the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center in Muncie, Ind. The `Birds lost 3-of-3 matches in doubles play and won 3-of-6 matches in singles action.
Head coach Cris James was discouraged by his team's effort in doubles play.
"Last week, I thought we got off to an okay start in doubles," said James. "This week, we were super flat right from the beginning. I was not happy with doubles at all. We let our opponents feel too good about themselves going into singles."
Illinois State lost all of its matches in doubles action, giving Ball State the point going into single play. At the No.1 spot, Alexander Pelaez and Tuomas Manner lost to Dalton Albertin and Ray Leonard, 8-5. Willi Peter and Muddappa Appanervanda fell to Zane Smith and Derek Carpenter, 8-7 (4), while Skip Span and Jusso Ojanen were defeated by Austin Smith and Austin Sansone, 8-4.
Despite the let down in doubles action, Peter was able to turn his performance around in singles play. At the No. 6 spot, Peter beat Patrick Elliot, 6-1, 6-4.
"Willi had a good day," said James. "He probably should have won his doubles but he was able to shake it off and regain his focus for singles, which is important."
Span and Pelaez were able to put their loss in doubles play aside, as well. At the No. 4 spot Span came out on top against Alexandre Brym, 7-5, 7-6 (3). Pelaez beat Dalton Albertin at the No. 1 spot, 6-2, 6-4.
Manner, Ojanen and Appanervanda were all defeated by Ball State in singles action.
Manner fell in the No. 2 spot to Ray Leonard, 6-3, 6-1 as Ojanen was defeated, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, by Zane Smith in the No. 3 spot. Appanervanda lost in the No. 5 spot to Austin Smith, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
"I believe in our team and I believe we are good," said James. "We just have to start showing it because we haven't showed it the past two weeks."
The Redbirds will have the opportunity to show it Friday and Saturday when they take on Xavier and Iowa at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, Ill. ISU will play Xavier Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Iowa Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
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