Redbirds Fall In Regular Season Finale To North Dakota, 4-3

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State wrapped up the regular season on Saturday hosting North Dakota, with both teams coming into the match with 2-2 records looking to secure their spots in the upcoming four-team Summit League Championship next weekend. After taking an early lead, the Redbirds dropped some tough singles matches to the Fighting Hawks and UND would go on to win 4-3 at the Evergreen Racquet Club.

With the win, UND secured its spot in the upcoming tournament, while ISU will have to await its postseason fate. The Summit League Chmapionship bracket will be formally announced on Sunday afternoon, following the conclusion of the match between Denver and Omaha.

The Redbirds took the early lead in the match by winning the doubles point. At the No. 1 spot, Adrian Dibildox and Tomas Valencia battled UND's Christos Alex and Darrshan Suresh Kumar to a 7-5 victory. Then at the No. 2 spot, Tin Ostro and Caden Scarlett took down Justin Ilic and Kotaro Matsumura by a score of 6-3 to secure the first point of the match.

As things moved onto singles, UND tied up the match with a win at the at the No. 4 position before Illinois State responded as Scarlett earned a hard-fought three-set win over Cole Wilber by a final of 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 6. The score would then even at 2-2 after the Fighting Hawks won in three sets on court No. 1. UND would then earn wins at the No. 5 spot and the No. 2 spot to clinch the match, before a Christian Capacci won at the No. 3 spot by a score of 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 to make it 4-3.

FINAL SCORE: North Dakota (4), Illinois State (3)

Doubles 
No. 1 Adrian Dibildox/Tomas Valencia (ISU) def. Christos Alex/Darrshan Suresh Kumar (UND) 7-5
No. 2 Tin Ostro/Caden Scarlett (ISU) def. Justin Ilic/Kotaro Matsumura (UND) 6-3
No. 3 Jett Leong/Finn Logue (ISU) vs. Cole Wilber/Leo Galliano (UND) 6-6 unfinished

Singles 
No. 1 Leo Galliano (UND def. Tomas Valencia (ISU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
No. 2 Darrshan Suresh Kumar (UND) def. Adrian Dibildox (ISU) 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 
No. 3 Christian Capacci (ISU) def. Kotaro Matsumura (UND) 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2
No. 4 Justin Ilic (UND) def. Tin Ostro (ISU) 6-3, 6-2 
No. 5 Christos Alex (UND) def. Jett Leong (ISU) 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 
No. 6 Caden Scarlett (ISU) def. Cole Wilber (UND) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2

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