Southern Illinois University
UIC
Salukis extinguish Flames for fourth straight win
02/20/2016 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
Tony McDaniel
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.--Southern Illinois (4-1) downed Illinois-Chicago (3-4) 5-2 today in the Saluki's first home match of the 2016 season. SIU was spurred by a tough performance in doubles play to begin the match.
SIU took the doubles point from UIC, but it was not easy. At No. 3 doubles, Peter Molloy and Daniel Martinez defeated Nate Campanile and Max Cederkall. The Salukis lost at No. 2 doubles, which set up a decisive match at No. 1 doubles.
In that match Jonny Rigby and Piotr Baranski forced a seven-point tiebreaker against UIC's top duo of Christopher Cole and Mitch Granger. However, seven points would not be enough. It would take 36-tiebreaking points to decide the match as neither duo could take an advantage over the other. In the end it was Rigby and Baranski that came out as the victors with a 19-17 point victory in the tiebreaker to give SIU the doubles point.
"Doubles was very, very close today," head coach Dann Nelson said. "It was very exciting stuff. Both teams had match points at No. 1 doubles. After that I think Illinois-Chicago was a little deflated."
In singles, the Salukis' hard-earned doubles point gave the team a boost of momentum that the Flames could not overcome. SIU earned wins in No. 1, 2, 3 and 6 singles. Rigby's 7-6 (3), 6-2 win at No. 1 singles over Carl Hedstrom clinched the victory for the Salukis. At No. 2 singles, Wilder Pimentel won his fourth straight singles match 6-1, 6-2. At No. 3 singles, Baranski won 6-3, 6-3 to go undefeated in his first match as a Saluki.
"Piotr's matches were huge," Nelson said. "For it to be his first match and him to get his first win as a Saluki, I'm very proud of him."
At No. 6 singles, Martinez earned his first singles win in the dual match season 6-2, 6-4 over UIC's Cederkall.
With the win, SIU improved its all-time record against UIC to 12-3.
The Salukis will play again on Sunday against Eastern Illinois at 11 a.m.
Match Results
Doubles results:
Doubles
Jonny Rigby and Piotr Baranski def. Christopher Cole and Mitch Granger 6-7 (19-17)
Carl Hedstrom and Marcelo Dib def. Wilder Pimentel and Alex Pozo 6-4
Peter Molloy and Daniel Martinez def. Max Cederkall and Nate Campanile 6-4
Singles
Jonny Rigby def. Carl Hedstrom 7-6 (3), 6-1
Wilder Pimentel def. Christopher Cole 6-1, 6-2
Piotr Baranski def. Andy Page 6-3, 6-3
Mitch Granger def. Peter Molloy 6-2, 6-3
Marcelo Dib def. Alex Pozo 5-7, 6-4, 10-7
Daniel Martinez def. Max Cederkall 6-2, 6-4
Players Mentioned
