MILWAUKEE – The Illinois State men's tennis team took the court for the first time in 11 days on Saturday, as the Redbirds competed in a doubleheader at Marquette. The Golden Eagles took early leads in both matches and handed the Redbirds a 5-2 defeat in the first match and a 6-1 loss in the second match of the day.
"I honestly couldn't be more proud of the guys today," ISU head coach Mark Klysner said. "We've been shorthanded all week with injuries and illnesses and came into this match without three or four regular starters, so the odds were stacked against us playing such a high-level team like Marquette. However, we fought hard and gave ourselves a chance to win which is all a coach can ask for."
The Golden Eagles picked up the early doubles point in both matches to take an early advantage. In match No. 1, Nam Pham picked up a solid 6-3, 7-5 win over Marquette's Luis Heredia Gomez at the No. 1 spot to get the Redbirds on the board. Ming-Chieh Chiu scored the other point for ISU, courtesy of a 6-2, 7-5 victory at the No. 4 spots over Nicola Kijac. Chiu continued his strong play, as he picked up the Redbirds' lone point in the second match of the day with his victory at the No. 4 spot over Rami Scheetz.
Illinois State will play its second Summit League contest of the season, when they travel to take on North Dakota on Saturday, March 27.
MATCH 1 RESULTS: MARQUETTE (5), ILLINOIS STATE (2)Â
Singles Competition
1. Nam Pham (ILS) def. Luis Heredia Gomez (MU) 6-3, 7-5
2. Fran San Andres (MU) def. Pol Botifoll Rius (ILS) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. Stefan Dragovic (MU) def. Melker Isaksson (ILS) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
4. Ming-Chieh Chiu (ILS) def. Nikola Kijac (MU) 6-2, 7-5
5. Jan Jauch (MU) def. Shu-Lun Chang (ILS) 6-3, 7-6
6. Will Tennison (MU) def. Brandon Lew (ILS) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Luis Heredia Gomez/Fran San Andres (MU) def. Nam Pham/Ming-Chieh Chiu (ILS) 6-4
2. Rami Scheetz/Shaddy Khalafallah (MU) vs. Melker Isaksson/Pol Botifoll Rius (ILS) unfinished
3. Stefan Dragovic/Will Tennison (MU) def. Brandon Lew/Shu-Lun Chang (ILS) 6-1
MATCH 2 RESULTS: MARQUETTE (5), ILLINOIS STATE (2)Â
Singles Competition
1. Fran San Andres (MU) def. Nam Pham (ILS) 6-2, 6-4
2. Stefan Dragovic (MU) def. Pol Botifoll Rius (ILS) 7-6, 6-4
3. Tin Krstulovic (MU) def. Melker Isaksson (ILS) 6-3, 6-2
4. Ming-Chieh Chiu (ILS) def. Rami Scheetz (MU) 7-5, 4-6, 1-0
5. Ian Brady (MU) def. Shu-Lun Chang (ILS) 7-5, 6-3
6. Nathan Balthazor (MU) def. Brandon Lew (ILS) 7-6, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Luis Heredia Gomez/Fran San Andres (MU) def. Nam Pham/Ming-Chieh Chiu (ILS) 6-4
2. Shaddy Khalafallah/Rami Scheetz (MU) vs. Melker Isaksson/Pol Botifoll Rius (ILS) unfinished
3. Ian Brady/Pablo Dale (MU) def. Shu-Lun Chang/Brandon Lew (ILS) 6-1
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