Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Wichita State
Men's Tennis falls to Wichita State, 7-0
04/06/2008 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
April 6, 2008
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University men's tennis team welcomed Wichita State today in their second conference match of the season. The Salukis (7-10, 0-2 MVC), were unable to hold off the Shockers (13-3, 2-0 MVC), falling 7-0.
For the first time this season, all matches were completed outdoors at the University Courts. In doubles action, Mariano Restrepo and Sebastian Rubiano teamed up at No. 2 doubles, in a tough match against Albert Ballesta and Thiago Dos Santos. Restrepo and Rubiano were unable to grab the win, falling 8-3. Anton Leonenko and Lucas Waked paired off against Tiago Espirito Santo and Matt Tievans at No. 1 doubles, but dropped the match, 8-6. Chase Miller and Hugo Vidal fell to Kevin Gardner and Jonathan Obrist, 8-5, at No. 3 doubles. The Shockers obtained the doubles point, giving them a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
Waked took on Espirito Santo at the top seed, gaining a quick lead in the first set, before Espirito Santo came back to take the set, 6-4. Espirito also took the second set with a 6-2 win. Vidal battled a tough match against Ballesta at No. 2 singles. Vidal was down 4-1 in the first set, but came back within one point, before falling in tiebreaker, 7-6 (9-7). Vidal came back for a 6-1 victory in the second set. It came down to the third set tiebreaker, where Vidal obtained a quick lead, but Ballesta came back for the win, 10-6. Resptrepo was unable to hold off Dos Santos at No. 3 singles, falling 6-3, 6-0. Leonenko fell to Obrist, 6-3, 6-2 at No 5 singles. Rubiano fought hard at No. 5 singles, but dropped his match to Adrian Chermaci, 6-3, 6-2. Miller battled for the win against Tievans, but fell 6-0, 6-0.
"We could have played better, especially being at home," said head coach Dann Nelson. "We just didn't play as well as we should have. Wichita State is a good team, all the credit goes to them."
The Salukis will continue conference play, Sat. April 12 as they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Bulldogs of Drake. Match time is set for 1 p.m.
Wichita State 7, Southern Illinois 0
Singles
No. 1 - Tiago Espirito Santo (WSU) def. Lucas Waked (SIU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 - Albert Ballesta (WSU) def. Hugo Vidal (SIU) 7-6 (9-7), 1-6, 10-6
No. 3 - Thiago Dos Santos (WSU) def. Mariano Restrepo (SIU) 6-3, 6-0
No. 4 - Jonathan Obrist (WSU) def. Anton Leonenko (SIU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 - Adrian Chermaci (WSU) def. Sebastian Rubiano (SIU) 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 - Matt Tievans (WSU) def. Chase Miller (SIU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Espirito Santo/Tievans (WSU) def. Waked/Leonenko (SIU) 8-6
No. 2 - Ballesta/Dos Santos (WSU) def. Restrepo/Rubiano (SIU) 8-3
No. 3 - Gardner/Obrist (WSU) def. Vidal/Miller (SIU) 8-5
Southern Illinois 7-10, 0-2
Wichita State 13-4, 2-0
Players Mentioned
