Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Tennis Continues Play at Murray State Invite
11/07/2009 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 7, 2009
By Michael Benson
www.SIUSalukis.com
KEN LAKE, Ky. - The SIU men's tennis team continued play Saturday at the Murray State Invitational, as they were swept in a non-team match-up with defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Jacksonville State.
In singles action, Brandon Florez was bested in Flight #1 by Axel Sundberg in a long three set match 5-7, 6-3, 10-7.
Flight #2 saw Chikara Kidera fall for the first time, as he was defeated by the Gamecocks' Chris Duke in straight sets 7-6, 6-3.
Meanwhile, in Flight #3, freshman Orhan Spahic took Jacksonville State's Nenad Marcec to three sets, but Marcec prevailed with a score of 3-6, 7-6, 10-3.
In the other two singles matches, Jordan Snyder and Pavlo Buryi both lost in straight sets, as Snyder lost to Thomas Bellmont 7-6, 7-6, while Buryi was topped by Felipe Watanabe 6-2, 6-2.
In doubles, Florez and Kidera fell to Brian Kenyon and Gustavo Holz, 9-8. In addition, Falk De Beenhouwer and Spahic were defeated by the J'ville State duo of Duke and Sundberg, 8-4, while Snyder and Buryi were bested by Marcec and Eric Matthieson, 9-7.
"We fought really hard in all matches," said head coach Dann Nelson. "A few points late in matches really hurt us. We were very close in several matches and it is hard to come away winless after battling so hard today."
"We basically need to play better on the big points when it matters the most. We are a very young team and in time we will be able to pull out those close matches."
Players Mentioned
