Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
ITA Central Regional
Kianicka and Rigby advance to doubles round of 16
10/16/2015 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Tony McDaniel
SIUSalukis.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After two days at the ITA Central Regional the Salukis still have a chance to take home a title.
SIU's duo of Jonny Rigby and Michal Kianicka advanced to tomorrow's round of 16 in doubles with a win today. Rigby and Kianicka defeated Tulsa's team of Dominic Bechard and Mitchell Pritchard, 8-4, in the first round of doubles. A second round bye guaranteed the duo a spot in the round of 16. Rigby and Kianicka will face Wichita State's team of Haru Inoue and Miroslav Herzan tomorrow.
Peter Molloy and Tom Kyle also opened doubles play with a victory. The duo defeated Wichita State's team of Austin Williams and Sergio de Vilchez in a tight 8-7 (3) match. It was Molloy and Kyle's first doubles match together. They lost to Missouri-Kansas City's team of Mike Psarros and Airam Castellano, 8-2, to put an end to their run in doubles.
"I am pleased with the doubles play of Pete and Tom as well as Jonny and Mike," head coach Dann Nelson said. "We are pleased to still be in the main draw of doubles with Jonny and Mike. We're looking forward to the next round."
In singles, what started as a promising day, ended as a disappointing one as four Salukis made it to the round of 32, but all failed to advance.
Kianicka lost his match to Drake's Vinny Gillespie, 6-3, 6-3. Rigby fell to Arkansas's Jose Salazar 6-1, 6-4. Kyle fell to Oklahoma State's Julian Cash, 6-1, 6-3, and Wilder Pimentel fell to Arkansas's Marco Micolani, 6-2, 6-1.
"We had a tough day in singles," Nelson said. "The further you advance in these tournaments the tougher the competition."
In the consolation draw, Peter Molloy won his first solo match of the tournament over Matues Rohde form Missouri-Kansas City while Daniel Martinez dropped a close match to SLU's David Ferragut.
Rigby and Kianicka will continue their run to the ITA Central Regionals' doubles crown tomorrow.
Friday's Results
Singles play:
Vinny Gillespie (Drake) def. Michal Kianicka 6-3, 6-3
Marco Micolani (Arkansas) def. Wilder Pimentel 6-2, 6-1
Jose Salazar (Arkansas) def. Jonny Rigby 6-1, 6-4
Julian Cash (Oklahoma State) def. Thomas Kyle 6-3, 7-5
Doubles play:
Molloy/Kyle def. de Vilchez/Williams (Wichita State) 8-7 (3)
Castelanno/Psarros (Missouri-Kansas City) def. Molloy/Kyle 8-2
Mendes/Stoica (Wichita State) def. Pimentel/Trebisky 8-2
Rigby/Kianicka def. Bechard/Pritchard (Tulsa) 8-4
Players Mentioned
