Redbirds Open Doubles Play at Vredevelt Invitational

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Illinois State men's tennis team dropped all six of its doubles matches Friday at the Western Michigan Vredevelt Invitational.

"Today was not our best showing in doubles," Illinois State head coach Mark Klysner said. "We lost a couple of close ones, but overall it was not the kind of day we had hoped for."

Sophomore Dylan Steffens and freshman Andreas Boers struggled in their first doubles match, as Western Michigan's Andrew Cahn and Maik Steiner defeated the Redbird duo 8-3. After a tough loss to Wisconson Green Bay's Michael Tebon and Joey Leto 8-7 (2), Steffens and Boers played Xavier's Connor Lafavre and Jeremy Schneider close before losing 8-7 (6) to finish their day.

Sophomore Urh Krajnc Domiter and freshman Christoffer Greve also had a difficult start to the Vredevelt Invitational, losing 8-5 to Cleveland State's Nolan Marks and Mirko Radosevic, and to Xaiver's Gabriel Chaves Araujo and Zach Mueck, 8-3. The two Redbirds closed out the day with an 8-1 defeat to Joe VanMeter and Manuel Belluti of Cleveland State.

Despite the tough day, Klysner remains optimistic.

"Tomorrow, we will start the singles portion of the tournament, and so I am hoping the guys can forget about the doubles and now focus on some positive results the rest of the weekend," Klysner said.

The three losses on Friday break Krajnc Domiter's perfect overall record to start the season, but he remains unbeaten in singles play.  

Illinois State will continue match play at the Western Michigan Vredevelt Invitational while beginning play at the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday.

Results

Doubles Play, Flight A

Andrew Cahn/Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Dylan Steffens/Andreas Boers 8-3

Michael Tebon/Joey Leto (UWGB) def. Steffens/Boers 8-7(2)

Connor Lafavre/Jeremy Schneider (XU) def. Steffens/Boers 8-7(6)

Doubles Play, Flight B

Nolan Marks/Mirko Radosevic (CSU) def. Urh Krajnc Domiter/Christoffer Greve 8-5

Gabriel Chaves Araujo/Zach Mueck (XU) def. Domiter/Greve 8-3

Joe VanMeter/Manuel Belluti (CSU) def. Domiter/Greve 8-1

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