Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Tennis hosts Missouri State and Wichita State
04/07/2006 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
April 7, 2006
By Lacole Hook
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois men's tennis team hosts two Missouri Valley Conference games this weekend. The Salukis (9-5) look to get their first conference win Saturday against Missouri State (4-6).
The Bears also have an 0-1 MVC record as they lost to Wichita State last weekend. The Salukis are coming off a four game win streak, including 6-1 wins over Illinois-Chicago and Chicago State.
"Even though we are playing well outside of conference that first conference win is probably the most important one," said tennis coach Dann Nelson. "We are playing well right now, and we've got a few guys that are playing very well."
Sergio Sanchez leads the team with an overall 14-3 singles record and has won his last 11 matches. Freshman Andrei Bubnov has also been playing well winning nine out of his last ten matches. Junior Rodrigo Lama has stepped up his play as of late and won three in a row.
On Sunday the Salukis face Wichita State (8-9). The Shockers have won their last two games, including a 6-1 win over the defending MVC champions MSU.
"We are really focused now and playing our best tennis of the year," Nelson said. "So these teams are going to come in and have to knock us off on our home court, and that will be difficult to do."
Both matches will be played on the University Courts weather permitting, otherwise will play on the indoor courts at Sports Blast. Play begins Saturday at 1 p.m. while Sunday's game is scheduled for 10 a.m.
