Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
MTSU Dale Short Shootout
Men's tennis begins fall season with solid numbers
09/22/2014 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
SIUSalukis.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Saluki men's tennis team opened the fall season with a rollercoaster ride during the three-day tournament at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The young Salukis claimed 17 wins out of 30 doubles and singles matches in total against players from host school Middle Tennessee State (MTSU), Tennessee State University (TSU), Austin Peay State University (APSU) and Belmont University at the Dale Short Invitational.
"Overall, we competed very well, especially in doubles, winning two out of three matches against all schools. We weren't able to do that in the past," head coach Dann Nelson said. "All of our freshmen won at least one match, getting their first college wins."
Day One
On Friday, Day One, Nelson's protégés started off strong against Belmont University, winning two of their three doubles, in addition to four of seven matches in singles play. Sophomore/junior duo Michal Kianicka and Jonny Rigby posted the first doubles win of the day against Anton/Lourinovic, 8-4. Teammates Szymon Opieczmak and Alex Pozo also topped their Belmont University competitors, 8-4, while Max Phipps and Ransom Braaten struggled and lost their match to Belmont's Dujacquier / Niel by a score of 8-3.
In singles play, the Saluki squad had the upper hand as well. Inspired by junior captain Rigby, who knocked out his Belmont opponent quickly 6-1, 6-3, Daniel Martinez finished off his opponent in the same manner, 6-1, 6-1, followed by Max Phipps who topped Belmont's Nardelli 6-2, 6-0 in an extra match. Peter Molloy, on the other hand, had to make an extra effort to win his match against Russo in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Freshman Pozo also held off his challenger, winning the first set, 6-3, but losing the next two, 3-6, 4-6.
SIU vs. Belmont
Doubles:
Rigby/Kiancka (SIU) def. Anton/Lourinovic (Belmont) 8-4
Opieczmak/Pozo (SIU) def. Russo/Demasse (Belmont) 8-4
Dujacquier/Niel (Belmont) def. Phipps/Braaten (SIU) 8-3
Singles:
Rigby (SIU) def. Anton (Belmont) 6-1, 6-3
Lourinovic (Belmont) def. Kianicka (SIU) 6-3, 6-1
Dujacquier (Belmont) def. Opieczmak (SIU) 6-1, 6-3
Demasse (Belmont) def. Pozo (SIU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Molloy (SIU) def. Russo (Belmont) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Martinez (SIU) def. Niel (Belmont) 6-1, 6-1
Phipps (SIU) def. Nardelli (Belmont) 6-2, 6-0
Day Two
The Salukis struggled on Day Two, losing seven of their nine matches against the tournament host MTSU.
The SIU doubles team of Peter Molloy and Daniel Martinez began the afternoon with an 8-2-loss against the MTSU doubles team Victor Hoang and Robin Riethmueller. Szymon Opieczonek and Alex Pozo responded fiercely with a hard-earned 8-5 win against MTSU's Yannick Born and Miguel Negre Fernandez. Same efforts were needed for the third SIU doubles victory from Jonny Rigby and Michal Kianicka who rallied to finish on top, 8-6.
In singles play, MTSU took all six matches, claiming straight-set victories over SIU freshmen Max Phipps (1-6, 3-6), Martinez (2-6, 1-6) and Pozo (2-6, 4-6). Rigby dropped his singles play to Dima Zyhmantovich 2-6, 4-6.
Micahl Kianicka and Opieczonek gave MTSU's Victor Hoang and Ben Davis a harder time. Both Kianicka and Opieczonek won their first and second sets, but their efforts were not rewarded as they lost the following sets 4-6, 6-4, 4-6 and 6-4, 1-6, 0-6. A late injury for Opieczonek resulted in changes in SIU doubles teams for the remainder of the weekend.
The day ended on a positive note, though, as Martinez (6-3, 6-2) and Ransom Braaten (7-6, 6-3) won two additional matches against players from Tennessee State University.
SIU vs. MT
Doubles:
Johnny Rigby/Michal Kianicka (SIU) def. Dima Zyhmantovich/Ben Davis (MT) 8-6
Szymon Opieczonek/Alex Pozo (SIU) def. Yannick Born/Miguel Fernandez (MT) 8-5
Victor Hoang/Robin Riethmueller (MT) def. Peter Molloy/Daniel Martinez (SIU) 8-2
Singles:
Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) def. Johnny Rigby (SIU) 6-2, 6-4
Ben Davis (MT) def. Michal Kianicka (SIU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Victor Hoang (MT) def. Szymon Opieczonek (SIU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
Robin Riethmueller (MT) def. Alex Pozo (SIU) 6-2, 6-4
Yannick Born (MT) def. Max Phipps (SIU) 6-1, 6-3 Miguel Negre Fernandez (MT) def. Daniel Martinez (SIU) 6-2, 6-1 Daniel Martinez (SIU) def. Darryl Hal (TSU) 6-3, 6-2 Ransom Braaten (SIU) def. Kyle Burton (TSU) 7-6, 6-3
Day Three
After a disappointing Day Two, the Salukis bounced back to finish their first competition on a positive note. Facing Austin Peay State University (APSU), the Salukis roared back and nearly swept the APSU squad in singles play. Only Max Phipps had seen better days as he dropped his singles play against fellow APSU freshman Manuel Montenegro 3-6, 2-6.
Later in doubles play, Phipps took his chance to make it up as he and Ranson Braaten topped the APSU duo Montenegro and Borowski, 8-5. Jonny Rigby and Michal Kianicka also saw success as they bested APSU's Ristovski and Seffrin, 8-4. Peter Molloy and Daniel Martinez, however, came up short by one against double duo Tverijonas/Mitchell.
SIU vs. APSU
Singles:
Rigby (SIU) def. Ristovski (APSU) 7-5, 7-6 (5)
Kianicka (SIU) def. Tverijonas (APSU) 6-3, 6-1
Pozo (SIU) def. Seffrin (APSU) 6-3, 6-3
Montenegro (APSU) def. Phipps (SIU) 6-3, 6-2
Martinez (SIU) def. Mitchell (APSU) 6-0, 6-3
Braaten (SIU) def. Borowski (APSU) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles:
Rigby/ Kianicka (SIU) def. Ristovski/ Seffrin (APSU) 8-4
Tverijonas/Mitchell (APSU) def. Molloy/Martinez (SIU) 8-7 (9)
Phipps/Braten (SIU) def. Borowski/Montengro (APSU) 8-5
In preparation for the upcoming ITA All-American (all singles) competition next weekend in Tulsa, Okla., the Saluki squad will be focusing more on singles play strategies but also "on finishing closer on the net, doubles strategies and fitness", Nelson said. The three-day ITA tournament begins on Friday.
Players Mentioned
