April 3, 2008

Complete Results

By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University men's tennis team welcomed Indiana State Thursday, in their first conference match of the season. The Salukis (7-9, 0-1 MVC) fell to the Sycamores (7-10, 1-0 MVC), 5-2.

Due to inclement weather, the match was moved indoors, to Sports Blast where to two teams faced off in a tough battle for the doubles point. Lucas Waked and Anton Leonenko teamed up at No. 1 doubles against Joshua Smith and Jon Sigurdsson, with an 8-3 victory. Mariano Restrepo and Sebastian Rubiano where unable to hold off Rishi Behl and Mpiloenhle Migogo, in a close tiebreaker resulting in a 9-8 (7-5) win for Behl and Migogo. Hugo Vidal and Chase Miller fought for the point at No. 3 doubles, but fell to Anton Tsymbalov and Michael Wenham, 8-6.

Vidal competed at No. 2 singles for the first time this season, but was unable to hold off Behl, falling 6-2, 6-3, to give the Sycamores a 2-0 lead. Waked fought a tough battle against Indiana State's No. 1 player, Tsymbalov. Waked was down in the first set, but came back, before dropping the set to Tsymbalov in he tiebreaker, 7-6. The two rallied in the second set, but Waked was unable to grab the win, falling 6-3. Restrepo got off to a good start at No. 3 singles, winning his first set against Migogo, 6-2. Restrepo was then unable to hold off for the win, falling 6-2, 6-4 in the next two sets to give the Sycamores a 4-0 lead. The Salukis fought back, when Leonenko grabbed a 6-0, 6-2 win over Smith at No. 4 singles, giving the Salukis their first point. Rubiano was down 4-1 in the first set at No. 5 singles, but came back to tie Sigurdsson, 4-4, then went on to win the set, 6-4. Rubiano grabbed the win, with a 6-2 victory in the second set. The Salukis advanced to 4-2 in the match. Miller finished up at No. 6 singles, battling against Blake Douglas, but dropped his match, 6-4, 6-2.

"We played better than we did last weekend," said head coach Dann Nelson. "We let Indiana State off the hook in doubles today, winning the doubles point changes everything. We just need to regroup and get ready for Wichita State this weekend."

The Salukis will continue action at home on Sunday, as they take on the Shockers of Wichita State. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at the University Courts.

Indiana State 5, Southern Illinois 2

Singles
No. 1 - Anton Tsymbalov (INS) def. Lucas Waked 7-6 (7-3), 6-3(SIU)
No. 2 - Rishi Behl (INS) def. Hugo Vidal (SIU) 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 - Mpiloenhle Migogo (INS) def. Mariano Restrepo (SIU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 - Anton Leonenko (SIU) def. Joshua Smith (INS) 6-0, 6-2
No. 5 - Sebastian Rubiano (SIU) def. Jon Sigurdsson (INS) 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 - Blake Douglas (INS) def. Chase Miller (SIU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 - Waked/Leonenko (SIU) def. Smith/Sigurdsson (INS) 8-3
No. 2 - Behl/Migogo (INS) def. Restrepo/Rubiano (SIU) 9-8 (7-5)
No. 3 - Tsymbalov/Wenham (INS) def. Vidal/Miller (SIU) 8-6

Southern Illinois 7-9, 0-1 MVC
Indiana State 7-10, 1-0 MVC