WEST POINT, N.Y. – The spring season is officially underway for Illinois State, after the Redbirds played a pair of tough teams Saturday in the first day of the Arthur Ashe Invite hosted by Army at West Point. The Redbirds fell to Florida Atlantic 7-0 in the first match of the day and dropped 4-3 battle to in-state rival DePaul in the matinee.
"Today was such a grind. We played OK in the first match, but really had to shake out the nerves and rust while at the same time playing a nationally-ranked team," ISU head coach Mark Klysner said. "We held our own and I feel could have gotten a couple match wins for sure. The second match was a fight between us and DePaul and it's always one of the most fun and highly-contested matches of the year. After a four-hour marathon, as well as leaving several match points on a couple courts, it just wasn't our day, but I was very pleased how we fought until the end."
After a tough loss in match one, Illinois State bounced back in the second match against DePaul and took the Blue Demons to the limit in the evening match. In doubles play, Melker Isaksson and Diego Le Gal Perez took down the No. 2 DePaul team of Lars Peder Minsaas and Luuk Wassenaar, 7-5, to knot things up at 1-1. Diego Emilio Moura Herrera and Dominick Cuchran fought hard to get the Redbirds the doubles point at No. 3, but ultimately were defeated 7-6 to give the Blue Demons the early point.
DePaul picked up wins at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 to take the match, however the Redbirds never gave up and fought to a 4-3 finish. Pol Botifoll Rius picked up a thrilling 7-5, 6-7, 12-10 win over Luuk Wassenaar at No. 2 and Isaksson defeated Marino Jakic in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 10-3 at No. 3. Dominick Cuchran also won in three sets at No. 6 to pick up the third point of the day for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds are back in action tomorrow at Noon against Army to wrap up a busy first weekend of action during the dual season.
MATCH 1: Florida Atlantic (7), Illinois State (0)
Singles Competition
1. Carles Sarrio (FAU) def. Nam Pham (ILS) 6-3, 3-6,14-12
2. Kevin Huempfner (FAU) def. Pol Botifoll Rius (ILS) 6-0,6-3
3. Alvaro Fernandez Horta (FAU) def. Melker Isaksson (ILS) 7-6, 6-1
4. Nicolas Jadoun (FAU) def. Diego Le Gal Perez (ILS) 6-4, 6-2
5. Gerard Escandell (FAU) def. Arvid Hjalte (ILS) 6-3, 6-4
6. Finn Stodder (FAU) def. Diego Emilio Moura Herrera (ILS) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Kevin Huempfner/Filip Krolo (FAU) def. Arvid Hjalte/Zane Kohrs (ILS) 6-2
2. Carles Sarrio/Hunter Robbins (FA) vs. Melker Isaksson/Diego Le Gal Perez (ILS) unfinished
3. Alvaro Fernandez Horta/Finn Stodder (FAU) def. Dominick Cuchran/Diego Emilio Moura Herrera (ILS) 6-2
MATCH 2: DePaul (4), Illinois State (3)
Singles Competition
1. Vito Tonejc (DEP) def. Nam Pham (ILS) 6-1, 6-3
2. Pol Botifoll Rius (ILS) def. Luuk Wassenaar (DEP) 7-5, 6-7, 12-10
3. Melker Isaksson (ILS) def. Marino Jakic (DEP) 6-4, 5-7, 10-3
4. Leon Huck (DEP) def. Diego Emilio Moura Herrera (ILS) 6-4, 6-2
5. Matteo Iaquinto (DEP) def. Arvid Hjalte (ILS) 6-1, 7-5
6. Dominick Cuchran (ILS) def. Sven Moser (DEP) 7-5, 4-6, 10-2
Doubles Competition
1. Vito Tonejc/Marino Jakic (DEP) def. Arvid Hjalte/Zane Kohrs (ILS) 6-3
2. Melker Isaksson/Diego Le Gal Perez (ILS) def. Lars Peder Minsaas/Luuk Wassenaar (DEP) 7-5
3. Tripp Tuff/Matteo Iaquinto (DEP) def. Diego Emilio Moura Herrera/Dominick Cuchran (ILS) 7-6
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