Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Mercer
Salukis fall 4-3 in a tight match against Mercer
01/19/2015 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
By Elizabeth Robinson
SIUSalukis.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Saluki men's tennis team fell to Mercer in a close match on Monday night, 4-3. SIU picked up four wins on the day, three in singles and one in doubles. Monday's loss drops the Salukis to 0-3 to start the spring season.
SIU's No. 1 doubles pair, Michal Kianicka and Jonny Rigby claimed the Salukis' only doubles win of the night, topping their opponents 6-2. The pair is now 9-2 this season overall.
Rigby and Kianicka helped the Salukis earn points with singles wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots as well. Freshman Max Phipps added SIU's third singles win at the No. 5 position. The Salukis were able to win five of the first six singles sets, but struggled closing the matches.
"We competed hard, but we are just not winning the deciding points," head coach Dann Nelson said. "We have to get a lot better if we want to compete with a good Austin Peay team in the next couple weeks."
After three tough competitors to open the spring season, the Salukis will take a nearly three-week break before returning on Friday, Feb. 6 to face Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn.
Final Results
Singles
W: Jonny Rigby (SIU) def. Oliver Snaider (MU) 6-0, 6-1
W: Michal Kianicka (SIU) def. Anderson Scarpa (MU) 6-4, 6-3
L: Arnav Mohanty (MU) def. Szymon Opieczonek (SIU) 6-2, 6-3
L: Manuel de Luis (MU) def. Alex Pozo (SIU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-4
W: Max Phipps (SIU) def. Ruben Vanoppen (MU) 6-0, 6-0
L: Arsav Mohanty (MU) def. Peter Molloy (SIU) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
W: Kianicka/Rigby (SIU) def. Luis/Ruben (MU) 6-2
L: Mohanty/Mohanty (MU) def. Braaten/Opieczonek (SIU) 6-2
L: Emmet/Scarpa (MU) def. Pozo/Phipps (SIU) 6-4
Players Mentioned
