Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Tennis Announces 2003-04 Schedule
08/11/2003 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Aug. 11, 2003
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Home court advantage will be an important asset to the Southern Illinois University men's tennis team this year - especially during the conference season. The Salukis host five of their eight conference matches during the 2003-04 season, and hope that will give them a boost from last season.
"I really like our schedule this year," says men's tennis head coach Missy Jeffrey. "During the spring we don't have any long road trips. We go to Kentucky for three days before the (MVC) individual tournament, then have the greatest 'Chicago' trip we've had in a while, playing Marquette, Northern Illinois and DePaul. After that, it's like home, home, home."
Jeffrey explains that the opportunity to be at home should help with some of the fatigue the players experience last season by allowing them more time to relax. She is quick to add that having a home court advantage won't make the Salukis complacent, especially when it comes to Evansville and Drake - two teams that defeat SIU in close 3-4 losses.
"Evansville will be our first conference match again this year," said Jeffrey. "We will definatly be looking forward to playing them this season. One of our last two matches before the (MVC) championship is against Drake, so we'll really be ready to play those two teams."
Prior to the spring season, SIU will venture to three invitationals during the fall season hosted by nationally ranked teams Middle Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisville. Jeffrey says these invitationals will really test and prepare her team for the spring season's grueling match-ups.
The Salukis return five athletes to the lineup from last season, including lone senior Peter Bong, who has played at the No. 1 spot the last two years. SIU also brings in a solid Division I transfer, Alexandru Nomicos, from the University of Oklahoma that should help near the top of the Saluki lineup.
FALL SCHEDULE09/12-14 Middle Tennessee Classic Murfreesboro, TN All Day09/26-28 Kentucky Invitational Lexington, KY All Day10/4-6 Louisville Invitational Louisville, KY All Day10/16-20 ITA Mid-American Regionals Tulsa, OK All Day
SPRING SCHEDULE01/23/2004 Louisville Louisville, KY 1:00 PM01/24/2004 TBA (Eastern Kentucky Triad) Richmond, KY 12:00 PM01/24/2004 TBA (Eastern Kentucky Triad) Richmond, KY 4:00 PM01/25/2004 Eastern Ky Richmond, KY 9:00 AM01/31/2004 MVC Individual Championships Des Moines, Iowa All Day02/01/2004 MVC Individual Championships Des Moines, Iowa All Day02/06/2004 Marquette Milwaukee, WI 6:00 PM02/07/2004 Northern Ill DeKalb, IL 1:00 PM02/08/2004 Depaul Chicago, IL 10:00 AM03/04/2004 Middle Tenn St Murfreesboro, TN 2:30 PM03/20/2004 Chicago State Carbondale, Ill. 10:00 AM03/25/2004 Evansville* Evansville, IN TBA04/02/2004 Indiana St* Carbondale, Ill. TBA04/03/2004 Illinois St* Carbondale, Ill. TBA04/04/2004 Bradley* Carbondale, Ill. TBA04/10/2004 Wichita St* Carbondale, Ill. TBA04/11/2004 Southwest Missouri State* Carbondale, Ill. TBA04/17/2004 Drake* Des Moines, Iowa TBA04/18/2004 Creighton* Omaha, NE TBA04/23-25 MVC Championships Bradley, IL All Day
# Murray State will be added to the schedule later.
