Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Tennis looks to rebound against SIU-Edwardsville
02/08/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 8, 2010
www.SIUSalukis.com
MATCH INFORMATION
Date(s): February 14
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Site(s): Sports Blast Sports Complex
Head Coaches: Dann Nelson (71-54 overall; 53-40 at SIU); Kyler Updyke (5-15 overall and at SIUE) - Division I records only
Saluki Assistant Coaches: Hugo Vidal (Graduate Assistant)
NET NOTES
The Southern Illinois Men's Tennis team is in its 87th year of existence... Head Coach Dann Nelson is in his fifth season with the team and holds a 53-40 (.570) mark with the Salukis... SIU enters 2010 as the defending Missouri Valley Conference champions after an 18-7 (5-1 MVC) mark in 2009... The Salukis captured their first MVC crown since 1990 by defeating Drake, 4-3, in the MVC Tournament title match... In the NCAA Tournament, the Dawgs fell to #7 UCLA in the first round, 4-0... The Salukis 18 victories were the most since 1977, when they won a program record 21 matches... The 2009 squad's .720 winning percentage is the best since 1972 (.875).
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
SIU continued their three-match homestand with a match against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars. The match - which is the first of four men's women's doubleheaders on the season - is set to start at 10 a.m. in Carbondale's Sports Blast Sports Complex.
SCOUTING SIU-EDWARDSVILLE
The Cougars enter 2010 with promise after their first season at the Division I level produced a 5-13 record, including wins over IUPUI, Robert Morris (Pa.), and Austin Peay. Led by former Cougar standout Kyler Updyke, SIUE returns six athletes from last year's squad, including top singles players Paulo Gonzalez and Rob Young.
A ROO-INED WEEKEND
After a dominating win against NAIA Gerogetown (Ky.) on Jan. 31, the Salukis were walloped by the UMKC Kangaroos Saturday at Sports Blast, 4-0. In the time-shortened match, the Dawgs only managed to win two sets in the loss.
CATS & DAWGS
The Salukis have had the upper hand over their sister school to the northwest, as the Dawgs have won the past two meetings between the two. In addition, SIU has outscored SIUE in those matches by a 13-1 margin.
BOBBY'S WORLD
Despite giving up six inches in height, freshmen Chikara "Bobby" Kidera proved to be a tough customer for UMKC's Serge Ristivojevic in their three set thriller Saturday. Kidera captured the first set against the Kangaroos' junior with a combination of quick volleys and pure athleticism. However, cramps hobbled Kidera in the second set, allowing Ristivojevic to capture the match in three sets.
NELSON NEARS MILESTONE
When SIU faces Buffalo in Boca Raton, Fla., on March 9, head coach Dann Nelson will become only the second coach in SIU men's tennis history to have coached 100 matches for the Dawgs. The only other coach to achieve that feat is the legendary Richard LeFevre, who amassed 819 matches in his 36 years at the helm.
Players Mentioned
