Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Marquette
Men's Tennis opens regular season at Marquette
02/03/2008 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 3, 2008
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Southern Illinois men's tennis team fell in their season opener at Marquette, 7-0.
Marquette jumped on the Salukis quick, winning all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead. Lucas Waked and Hugo Vidal teamed up against Brett Binkley and Mark Rutherford. At No. 2, Anton Leonenko and Mariano Restrepo dropped their match with Stephen Shao and Pete Van Lieshout 8-3. Trent Hagan and Dusan Medan took the final doubles match against Sebastian Rubiano and Chase Miller, 8-3.
"Marquette played really well in doubles," said head Coach Dann Nelson. "We knew they would come out very strong and play with emotion. It was hard for our guys to go in and get a victory."
At the top seed in singles, Hagan defeated Waked 6-3, 6-7, 1-0 (10-4). Competing at No. 2, Vidal lost to Medan in a tiebreaker 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5). Shao and Leonenko faced off at No. 3 singles, Leonenko fell 6-4, 6-2. Restrepo lost a close match in a tiebreaker against Niko Boulieris, 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-8). Rubiano dropped his match against Rutherford 6-0, 6-2, and Miller fell to Brinkley 6-2, 6-2.
"A few points went our way in singles," Nelson said. "But you've got to pull out those close matches."
The Salukis continued play in Milwaukee against University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, defeating the Phoenix 6-1.
In doubles action, SIU started out strong, winning two of three matches. Lucas Waked and Hugo Vidal took the top seed match from Tim Prudlow 8-3. Anton Leonenko and Mariano Restrepo fell to Mark Goldin and Matt Clegg, 8-6. Wrapping up doubles at the No. 3 seed Sebastian Rubiano and Chase Miller teamed up against Brian Zaron and Eric Plaushines to grab the doubles point, winning the match 8-5.
"I really liked how our guys responded," said Nelson. "We played aggressively and it showed in the scores. We were able to get the doubles point, which was very important."
In singles, No. 1 Lucas Waked played a tough match against Prudlow falling 7-6, 3-6, 6-1. The Salukis won the rest of the singles matches with Vidal defeating Mark Goldin 6-2, 7-5. Leonenko won the No. 3 match against Clegg 7-5 6-3. At No. 4, Matt Keesey fell to Restrepo 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Rubiano held off Zaron 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, while Miller took the No. 6 match 7-5, 6-2, defeating Plaushines.
"Chase, Sebastian, and Restrepo all won won their first collegiate matches today," Nelson said. "Sebastian came back and won 7-5 in his third set. It was really nice to see him come back and win his match."
The Salukis only senior, Felipe Villasenor was unable to compete but Nelson is looking forward to his return for the next match.
The Salukis will return to action on Feb. 16 when they face Eastern Kentucky in Richmond, Ky.
Players Mentioned
