Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Illinois State
Redbirds rough up Men's Tennis
04/03/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
April 3, 2010
By Michael Benson
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Saluki men's tennis team was dealt their first Missouri Valley Conference loss of the season Saturday in Carbondale, as the Illinois State Redbirds swept Southern Illinois, 7-0.
The loss was the first time since Jan. 30 that the Dawgs failed to win a single match.
"We played a good match, even though the score may not indicate it," said Saluki head coach Dann Nelson. "Illinois State is one of the top three teams in the conference and we need to step up our play if we want to be at that level. I think we have the ability to be there, too."
Chikara Kidera performed at the top of his game all day, though his all-match winning streak was snapped at six matches. He nearly extended it to seven in doubles, but Kidera and Brandon Florez were defeated by the `Birds' Timon Reichelt and Matej Zlatkovic, 8-7 (7-5).
The freshman from St. Louis would face Reichelt again in No. 3 singles. However, Kidera's payback bid came short, losing 6-7, 7-5, 10-6.
"That is the best I've seen (Kidera) play in a long time," Nelson said. "The guy he played was number one for them last season."
However, the rest of the Salukis were toppled in straight sets in singles.
The closest of the other matches came in top singles, where Mpilo Migogo fell to Filip Miljevic 6-2, 6-3.
Southern Illinois will begin a three match road trip Wednesday, as they head to Charleston, Ill., to take on the Eastern Illinois Panthers in a 3 p.m. tilt.
