Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Murray State
Men's Tennis slips past Racers
03/27/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
March 27, 2010
By Michael Benson
www.SIUSalukis.com
MURRAY, Ky. - The Southern Illinois men's tennis team broke their three match losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Murray State Racers Saturday in Murray, Ky.
The win was also the first road win for the Salukis on the season.
"The match could have gone either way," said Saluki head coach Dann Nelson. "We played just well enough to pull it off."
Chikara Kidera shined on the courts for the second straight match for the Dawgs, winning what proved to be the clinching match in singles and also nabbing a victory in doubles. With Southern leading 3-2, Kidera put the finishing touches on a convincing win over MSU's Mason Johnson in the third set to take the match for the Salukis 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
The freshman teamed up with Brandon Florez in doubles to take down Ben Clos and Jorge Caetano, 8-2.
Not to be outdone, senior Mpilo Migogo also won in both of his matches. Migogo topped Caetano in singles 6-2, 7-5, while joining Anton Leonenko to beat Jose Berardo and Johnson, 8-4.
Recording the other win for Southern in singles was Orhan Spahic. Spahic ended his own losing streak by taking down MSU's Berardo 6-4, 6-3 in No. 6 singles.
"I was very happy how the guys battled today," Saluki assistant coach Hugo Vidal said.
The Dawgs' next match is Friday, April 2, when they host the Bradley Braves in their Missouri Valley Conference opener. The match will begin at 2 p.m. at the University Courts.
Players Mentioned
