Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Purdue Fall Invitational
Kianicka wins Flight A at Purdue Fall Invitational
09/27/2015 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.-- The Salukis followed their doubles championships on Saturday up with a singles title on Sunday at the Purdue Fall Invitational.
"I am extremely proud of the team and how we represented SIU throughout the whole tournament," Head coach Dann Nelson said. "Everybody finished with a positive record in both singles and doubles."
Junior Michal Kianicka won the Flight A Singles championship over Dayton's freshman, Jordan Benjamin 7-5, 7-6 (2).
"I've been working really hard during practices and it has paid off," Kianicka said. "I played good tennis the whole tournament and it feels like a big satisfaction. I felt I was in good shape and was pretty confident going to this tournament. With the amazing support of my teammates it all clicked together."
It was Kianicka's second title of the weekend. He and Jonny Rigby won the Flight A doubles final yesterday. Kianicka finished a perfect 8-0 at the tournament.
I am very proud of Mike," assistant coach Pawel Poziomski said. "He was focused from the beginning to the end of the match and executed the gameplan perfectly he deserved to win this tournament."
In flight C, Alex Pozo advanced to the championship match, but lost to ToledSUno freshman, Vince Anzalone, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4. Rigby had a chance to play Kianicka in the Flight A singles final, but fell to Benjamin in the semi finals 6-4, 6-4. Pozo and Rigby both finished 7-1 on the weekend.
Overall, the Salukis were 26-6 at the Purdue Fall Invitational and won three of the nine flights.
This is not the first time the Salukis have had success at the Purdue Fall Inviatational. In 2012, Adam Fabik won the Flight A single title and Falk De Beemhouwer advanced to the Flight C finals. The Salukis finished the season 11-8 that year.
"It feels like déjà vu," Nelson said. "The difference this year is that we had three doubles teams make the final of their flight and won two of them."
SIU will hope to continue their strong start to the fall season at the ITA All-American on Oct. 3, 4 and 5.
"Results show that we were one of the strongest teams there. This is a great start to the new fall season and we are looking forward to the next tournament. We would like to that Purdue men's tennis coach Pawel Gajdzik and his staff for the running a great event."
Sunday results:
Flight A:
Kianicka def. Lancaster (Louisville) 7-5, 6-2
Benjamin (Dayton) def. Rigby 6-4,6-7 (6), 6-0
Kianicka Flight B:
Fisher def. Pimentel 6-4, 6-4
Flight C:
Pozo def. Nalley (IUPUI) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Anzalone (Toledo) def. Pozo 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
Flight D Consolation:
Kyle def. Connolly (Wright State) 2-6, 7-5, 10-3
Flight E Consolation:
Martinez def. Gonzalez (Chicago State) 6-2, 6-4
Molloy def. Miller (Toledo) 7-5, 6-2
