Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis set to take on St. Louis University on Thursday
03/23/2016 | 12:00:00 | Men's Tennis
By Elizabeth Robinson
SIUSalukis.com
O'FALLON, Ill. -- The Saluki men's tennis team returns to action on Thursday to take on St. Louis University. SIU is 8-2 on the season heading into this week's match.
SIU is coming off the team's first loss in more than two months after falling to Troy University, 4-3, last week. Despite three additional matches being rained out during the team's spring break trip to Florida, the team benefited from additional practices and rest in preparation for tomorrow's match.
"What we've done to get ready for this match is to get back into the groove and get back into our own rhythm with how we play," SIU head coach Dann Nelson said.
The Billikins enter the weekend with a similar season as the Salukis, posting a 10-3 record on the season. Most recently SLU fell to Saint Josephs, 5-2. David Ferragut leads the team in with a 12-1 record at the No. 1 spot while Juan Calero and John Nogalski lead in doubles with an 8-1 record from the No. 1 spot.
Southern's series history against SLU dates back to 1962, with SIU leading 20-2. This marks the Salukis' ninth meeting with the Billikens under head coach Dann Nelson. The Salukis are 7-1 against SLU under Nelson, winning five consecutive matches with the last loss in 2010. Last year the Salukis swept St. Louis 7-0.
"We usually have really good matches with them. I like their team, I like their coach, they're coached well and they try hard. They've done really well against like opponents that we've had, so I'm expecting a really tough match," Nelson said.
Thursday's match, originally an outdoor match scheduled for 1 p.m., has been moved indoors due to risks of high winds. The match will be played at 2:30 p.m. at St. Clair Tennis Club in O'Fallon, Ill.
