Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Purdue Invitational
Freshman Adam Fabik takes Flight A title at Purdue Invitational
09/19/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Sept. 19, 2010
By Tyler Wooten
www.SIUSalukis.com
The Southern Illinois University men's tennis squad began its fall season at the Purdue Invitational this weekend, highlighted by a singles title by Adam Fabik.
Fabik, a freshman, won the Flight A Main Draw, besting players from Iowa, Purdue, Notre Dame and Western Michigan to win the title.
"This is just something extremely special," said head coach Dann Nelson. "Adam was playing in his very first college tournament, in the top flight. To beat that kind of competition was amazing."
Senior Falk De Beenhouwer also had an impressive weekend, advancing to the finals of the Flight C Main Draw by beating opponents from Valparaiso, Purdue and DePaul, before succumbing to Arkansas' Mike Nott in the championship match.
In the Main Draw of Flight B Singles, freshman Carlos Do Val and sophomore Orhan Spahic advanced to the second round after both beating players from Dayton. They also both lost to a player who went on to the championship match. Do Val lost to the eventual champion Casey Cullen of Western Michigan, and Spahic lost to the eventual runner-up, Ryan Bandy of Notre Dame
In all, five of eight Salukis advanced to at least the second round.
"You never know how you're going to play going into the first tournament of the year, but we prepared well and we worked really hard to get ready, and it showed in the results," Nelson said. "We're a pretty deep team. We can win at the top and the bottom. Overall, it was a good experience to go into a Big Ten venue and win."
The Salukis return to action next weekend as they travel to Tennessee for the Austin Peay Invite.
Players Mentioned
