Men's Tennis closes out regular season versus Wichita State

April 12, 2010

www.SIUSalukis.com

MATCH INFORMATION

Date(s): April 17

Location: Carbondale, Ill.

Site(s): University Courts

Head Coaches: Dann Nelson (76-63 overall; 58-49 at SIU); Brad Louderback (102-69 overall, 29-18 at Wichita State) - 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 58-49 (.542) 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 close out their regular season schedule Saturday, as they celebrate Senior Day with an 11 a.m. match against the Shockers of Wichita State.

SCOUTING WICHITA STATE

The Shockers have recorded an 11-8 record overall and a 3-1 mark in the MVC thus far in 2010. However, five of the Shocks' eight losses have come at the hands of nationally ranked teams, including No. 12 UCLA and No. 20 Oklahoma. Brad Louderback leads WSU in his third season and is looking to get the program's 23rd MVC title and first since 2004. Redshirt freshman Sven Kasper paces Wichita State with 12 singles wins.

THE LAST TIME...

SIU and WSU last met in the 2009 MVC tournament semi-finals, as the Salukis clipped the Shockers, 4-3, en route to the tournament title.

HERE HE COMES, THERE HE MIGOGO-ES

Senior Mpilo Migogo rebounded from a rough opening weekend in MVC play with three wins overall against Creighton and Drake. Migogo handed the Bluejays' J.T. Christian only his second loss this spring on Saturday with a 6-2, 6-2 win. The Harare, Zimbabwe, native also won twice in doubles with partner Falk De Beenhouwer.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN

Though their overall record sits at 6-11, the Salukis actually hold a 25-23 record in all doubles matches this season. Currently, that would rank as the second best overall doubles record in Dann Nelson's tenure at Southern Illinois. The best mark was set last season, when the team went 43-24.

HOME COOKIN'

Regardless of Saturday's result, 2010 will go down as the fourth straight year in which the Saluki men's tennis team notched at least a .500 winning percentage at home. The last time the team had a losing record in Carbondale was 2006, when the team was 2-4.