Feb. 27, 2008

Box Score

By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Southern Illinois University men's tennis team fell to Louisville 7-0 Wednesday afternoon at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center in Louisville. The Salukis (3-3) had won their last two matches before facing the Cardinals.

The Salukis went up against nationally ranked players, including the 23rd-ranked team of Austen Childs and Simon Childs in No. 1 doubles. The duo defeated Lucas Waked and Anton Leonenko, 8-4. Mariano Resptrepo and Hugo Vidal were unable to hold off David Simon and Robert Rotaru, falling 8-3 in No. 2 doubles. Felipe Villasenor and Sebastian Rubiano captured the win at No. 3 doubles against Viktor Maksimcuk and Alejandro Calligari, 8-6.

"Anton and Lucas played amazing points," said head coach Dann Nelson. "They played well against a doubles team ranked top 25 in the nation."

In singles, Austen Childs, No. 40 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, defeated Waked, 6-1, 6-2 at the top seed. Restrepo ended his four match winning streak, falling 6-4, 7-5 to Simon at No. 2 singles.

"Mariano played well enough to win but crucial points in both sets did him in," Nelson said. "He did a great job of pushing the tempo of his match and putting together good service games."

In No. 3 singles, Hugo Vidal was unable to hold off Maksimcuk, who won the match 6-2, 6-2. Senior captain, Villasenor was competing in only his second match of the season, after an injury kept him from playing in the beginning of the season. Villasenor played a tough No. 4 singles match against Simon Childs, but fell 6-2, 6-3. Rotaru picked up the win over Leonenko, 6-2, 6-1, in No. 5 singles. Miller teamed up against Barnoud, battling for a win in No. 6 singles, but was unble to grab the point, falling 7-5, 6-1.

"Overall we did not play our best today," said Nelson. "But we know that we are capable of playing at a much higher level because we have seen it already this season."

The Salukis are now 3-3 as they prepare to take on Western Illinois on Sun., March 2. The match is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Macomb, Ill.

Louisville 7 - Southern Illinois 0

Singles
No. 1 - Austen Childs def. Lucas Waked 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 - Davind Simon def. Mariano Restrepo 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 - Viktor Maksimcuk def. Hugo Vidal 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 - Simon Childs def.Felipe Villasenor 6-2, 6-3
No. 5 - Robert Rotaru def. Anton Leonenko 6-2, 6-1
No. 6 - Tim Barnoud def. Chase Miller 7-5, 6-1

Doubles
No. 1 - Childs/Childs def. Waked/ Leonenko 8-4
No. 2 - Simon/Rotaru def. Restrepo/Vidal 8-3
No. 3 - Villasenor/Rubiano def. Maksimcuk/Calligari 8-6