Illinois State Sweeps Chicago State For 7-0 Victory

CHICAGO – It was a full team effort for Illinois State against Chicago State on Wednesday afternoon, as the Redbirds took the early doubles point and then swept singles to come away with a 7-0 win over the Cougars at the at the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club.

"I thought we played so well today collectively," ISU head coach Mark Klysner said. "We started off with some great doubles which for gave us some momentum going into the singles. We stepped up our singles play today, and I couldn't be prouder of the boys. It was a much-needed win, and we will use this going into Friday's match at home against EIU."

A 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles by Nam Pham and Ming-Chieh Chiu over Chicago State's Hugo Hidalgo Vega and Max Sandoval got things started for the Redbirds, who locked up the doubles point with a 6-3 victory by Melker Isaksson and Diego Le Gal Perez against Jakub Zamorski and Jesus Perez Plaza at No. 2.

Diego Emilio Moura Herrera started off singles play strong with a 6-4, 6-1 straight-set win over Sandoval at No. 4 and Isaksson quickly followed with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Perez Plaza at No. 3 to make the score 3-0 in favor of the Redbirds. Zane Kohrs then took care of business at No. 6 with a 6-0, 6-4 defeat of Hidalgo Vega to bring the score to 4-0 and seal the victory for ISU.

A straight-set 6-3, 6-4 win by Arvid Hjalte at No. 5 over Zamorski extended the Redbird advantage to 5-0, and gritty three-set comeback wins by Pol Botifoll Rius at No. 2 and Pham at No. 1, after each fell behind after the first set, completed the sweep for the 'Birds.

The Redbirds will have a quick turnaround, as they return home to host in-state foe Eastern Illinois on Friday at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington. First serve is set for 2 p.m. CT.

FINAL SCORE: Illinois State (7), Chicago State (0)

Singles: 
1. Nam Pham (ILS) def. Pedro Alvarez (CSU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
2. Pol Botifoll Rius (ILS) def. Javier Sanchez Pradillo (CSU) 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 
3. Melker Isaksson (ILS) def. Jesus Perez Plaza (CSU) 6-4, 6-0
4. Diego Emilio Moura Herrera (ILS) def. Max Sandoval (CSU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Arvid Hjalte (ILS) def. Jakub Zamorski (CSU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Zane Kohrs (ILS) def. Hugo Hidalgo Vega (CSU) 6-0, 6-4
 
Doubles: 
1. Javier Sanchez Pradillo/Pedro Alvarez (CSU) def. Zane Kohrs/Arvid Hjalte (ILS) 6-2
2. Melker Isaksson/Diego Le Gal Perez (ILS) def. Jakub Zamorski/Jesus Perez Plaza (CSU) 6-3
3. Nam Pham/Ming-Chieh Chiu (ILS) def. Hugo Hidalgo Vega/Max Sandoval (CSU) 6-1

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