March 30, 2014
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -
Securing the early doubles-point advantage sparked an Illinois State (6-9) 4-1, victory over Missouri Valley Conference-foe Southern Illinois (7-8) at the final day of the MTS shootout in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Muddappa Appanervanda, Urh Kranjc Domiter, Dylan Steffens, Rodrigo Oliveira, Rolando Torrellas and Jakub Eisner all took home victories for the Redbirds who snapped a six match losing streak.
In No. 1 doubles action Eisner and Torrellas fell to Jonny Rigby and Michal Kianicka, 8-2, but ISU responded with back-to-back victories in the No. 2 doubles and No. 3 doubles matchups. In No. 2 doubles Appanervanda and Kranjc Domiter beat Jorqe Cavero and Szymon Opieczonek, 8-4, while in the No. 3 doubles slate Steffens and Oliveira defeated Rafael Cuadrillero and Jeremy Dixon, 8-6.
"I'm happy how we finished the weekend," head coach Mark Klysner said. "It's not always easy to come out after a couple of tough losses and perform well on the last day of a road trip but I thought we competed well. Always nice to get a win before starting conference play."
In No. 3 singles action Eisner defeated Opieczonek, 6-2, 7-6. The No. 5 singles player Torrellas smothered Cuadrillero, 6-2, 6-2 and in the No. 6 singles play Oliveira beat Fillip Aleksic, 6-3, 6-3. Kranjc Domiter lost in the No. 2 spot to Cavero, 6-4, 6-1.
In No. 1 singles play, Wilson and Rigby's match went unfinished, 1-6, 7-5, 0-2, and in No. 4 singles action Appanervanda and Kianicka also went unfinished, 2-6, 6-1, 2-4.
ISU will look to build on Sunday's 4-1 victory next Saturday as they begin MVC conference play at No. 69 Wichita State. The match is slated for an 11 a.m. start.
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