Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Tennis heads to St. Louis to face Billikens
03/15/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
March 15, 2010
www.SIUSalukis.com
MATCH INFORMATION
Date(s): March 19
Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Site(s): Dwight Davis Tennis Center
Head Coaches: Dann Nelson (74-59 overall; 56-45 at SIU); Jonathan Zych (80-104 overall and at Saint Louis) - 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 56-45 (.554) 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
The Salukis begin the second half of the regular season with a match Friday against regional rival Saint Louis. The match will take place at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center at 3 p.m.
SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
TThe Billikens currently hold a 5-3 mark on the season after winning their first five matches of the season. Led by ninth year head coach Jonathan Zych, the Bills hold a 4-0 mark at home, including wins over Eastern Illinois and SIU-Edwardsville. Tops for SLU on the courts is Australian James McArthur, who currently holds a 6-0 mark playing mostly No. 2 singles.
THE LAST TIME...
The Dawgs have dominated SLU the last two times the two have met, winning matches by 6-1 margins in 2008 and 2009.
BILLIKEN BUSTING
Senior Anton Leonenko has been a tough draw for the Billiken men's tennis team the last two years, amassing a record of 3-1 in singles and doubles. The Calgary, Canada, native is 2-0 in his two singles matches, winning both times in straight sets. Meanwhile, Leonenko is 1-1 in doubles.
A BUMPY ROAD
With last week's matches in the books, the Saluki men have a 1-5 mark in road/neutral site matches this season, with their lone win coming Jan. 31 against NAIA Georgetown (Ky.). In two of their five losses, Southern has been swept.
LONG TIME, NO HOME MATCH
The Salukis are currently in the midst of their second longest stretch without a home match in the Dann Nelson era. After the Dawgs' March 6 match against Chicago State, the team will not play another match in Carbondale until April 2, when they open their MVC slate against Bradley. The longest stretch came in 2008, when the team went from Feb. 21 to March 26 without a home match.
Players Mentioned
