
Salukis celebrate Senior Day with 4-1 win over Wichita State
04/01/2017 | 5:12:00 | Men's Tennis
The Saluki men's tennis team defeated Wichita State, 4-1, ending an eight-year losing streak to the Shockers and claiming a key victory in the program's final home match.
"This was a huge statement for the tennis program today," director of tennis Audra Anderson said. "We were co-champions with Wichita last year. This win seals the deal of who is on top this year."
Southern Illinois (15-2) won big in both singles and doubles. The nationally ranked team of Piotr Baranski and Alex Pozo claimed the No. 1 doubles match, 6-3. The No. 3 doubles team of Wilder Pimentel and Param Pun extended their record to 11-1 as they won, 6-1. Michal Kianicka and Peter Molloy lost their match at No. 2 doubles, but Southern still claimed the doubles point.
In singles, Pozo and Pun won at the No. 4 and No. 6 spots, while Daniel Martinez lost at No. 5 spot. The match came down to the top three flights. Baranski, Pimentel and Kianicka faced tough opponents.
Kianicka clinched the match for SIU winning at No. 3 singles in the third set. Baranski and Pimentel did not need to finish their matches.
Coach Jonny Rigby said even though the win against Wichita State is huge, there are still two more MVC teams that they will be facing to end the regular season.
"All the MVC teams are strong," Rigby said. "The team will need to produce a performance that is just as good, if not better than what was played today to beat Drake. But with the season we're having, anything is possible."
The Salukis travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on Drake on April 8. Drake is ranked No. 52 in national ITA rankings and are right behind SIU in MVC rankings as well.
"This was a huge statement for the tennis program today," director of tennis Audra Anderson said. "We were co-champions with Wichita last year. This win seals the deal of who is on top this year."
Southern Illinois (15-2) won big in both singles and doubles. The nationally ranked team of Piotr Baranski and Alex Pozo claimed the No. 1 doubles match, 6-3. The No. 3 doubles team of Wilder Pimentel and Param Pun extended their record to 11-1 as they won, 6-1. Michal Kianicka and Peter Molloy lost their match at No. 2 doubles, but Southern still claimed the doubles point.
In singles, Pozo and Pun won at the No. 4 and No. 6 spots, while Daniel Martinez lost at No. 5 spot. The match came down to the top three flights. Baranski, Pimentel and Kianicka faced tough opponents.
Kianicka clinched the match for SIU winning at No. 3 singles in the third set. Baranski and Pimentel did not need to finish their matches.
Coach Jonny Rigby said even though the win against Wichita State is huge, there are still two more MVC teams that they will be facing to end the regular season.
"All the MVC teams are strong," Rigby said. "The team will need to produce a performance that is just as good, if not better than what was played today to beat Drake. But with the season we're having, anything is possible."
The Salukis travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on Drake on April 8. Drake is ranked No. 52 in national ITA rankings and are right behind SIU in MVC rankings as well.
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