Southern Illinois University
SIU-Edwardsville
Men's, Women's Tennis collar SIUE
02/14/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 14, 2010
By Michael Benson
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois men's and women's tennis teams both notched wins Sunday at the Sports Blast Sports Complex as they each defeated SIU-Edwardsville by scores of 6-1.
Men's
The Saluki men's tennis team rebounded from a tough loss to down SIU-Edwardsville to even their record at 2-2 for the season.
The Salukis won all but one match on the day, each in straight sets.
Highlighting singles action was the freshman foursome of Brandon Florez, Chikara Kidera, Orhan Spahic, and Jordan Snyder. Florez, playing top singles, trounced SIUE's Paulo Gonzalez 6-1, 6-4. Meanwhile, Kidera toppled Mike Chamberlain 6-1, 6-2, and Spahic beat Devan Faulkenberg 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. In addition, Snyder won in his first match of the year, downing Jordan Faulkenberg 6-2, 6-3.
In doubles, SIU senior Anton Leonenko returned from injury, pairing with fellow senior Mpilo Migogo to defeat SIUE's Jeremy Knipp and Pete Wilson, 8-4.
Also, Florez and Lucas Waked teamed up for a No. 1 doubles sweep, topping the Cougars' duo of Gonzalez and Chamberlain, 8-0.
Women's
The Saluki women's tennis team recorded their first win of the year with a dominating 6-1 win over the Cougars of SIU-Edwardsville.
The Dawgs won all but one match on the day, including Anastacia Simons, who won her first collegiate match of her career. Simons - a freshman from Port Elizabeth, South Africa - handled SIUE freshman Amanda Miller en route to a 6-1, 6-1 romp.
Also winning for the first time in the spring season were sophomores Vishakha Sheoran and Emily Whitney, along with freshman Jennifer Dien. Sheoran topped Maggie Boeckman in straight sets 6-4, 6-0, while Whitney bested Laura Horning 6-3, 6-3. In addition, Dien won in a time-shortened match, defeating Ali Wulfers, 8-0.
Arguably the most intriguing match of the day came in No. 1 singles, where Melanie Delsart faced off with the Cougars' Carli Connors - niece of former U.S. tennis star Jimmy Connors. Delsart and Connors were near even throughout the first set until Delsart came away with a win in tiebreakers. Fittingly, the second set would follow suit, as both would go to another tiebreaker, which the Saluki freshman won to capture the match 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5).
In doubles, the Salukis swept the Cougars for the doubles point. Highlighting doubles play were Dien and senior Jessica Flannery, who won their No. 3 doubles match in tiebreakers over SIUE's Horning and Kelsey Laird, 9-8 (10-5).
"SIUE was much more solid than last year's team, especially at the top," said SIU head coach Audra Nothwehr. "We are playing much cleaner in singles, playing with higher percentage first serves, and hitting better returns. That's what we have been focusing on lately. For the most part, we took care of business today."
The SIU men's and women's tennis teams will host their second doubleheader Saturday, when they face the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. The match will begin at 10 a.m. at Sports Blast with the women taking the court first.
Players Mentioned
