Nov. 8, 2009

By Michael Benson
www.SIUSalukis.com

KEN LAKE, Ky. - The SIU men's tennis team won four of their six singles matches in non-team action with Murray State as they wrapped up play Sunday at the Murray State Invitational in Ken Lake, Ky. Freshman

Chikara Kidera finished the weekend 2-1 in singles competition, as he toppled the Racers' Renaldo Domoney 4-6, 6-3, 10-6, in Flight #2.

Meanwhile, Brandon Florez and Falk De Beenhouwer both turned in dominating performances. Florez, a freshman from McKinney, Texas, bested Murray State senior Ben Clos in straight sets 6-1, 6-4, in Flight #1, while the Belgian De Beenhouwer blasted Jorge Caetano 6-3, 6-2, in Flight #4.

In addition, Orhan Spahic came through with a straight set victory in Flight #3, prevailing over Jose Berado 6-3, 7-5.

In other singles action, Jordan Snyder was defeated by Jadir Semensin 6-2, 6-1, in Flight #5. In Flight #6, Pavlo Buryi fell to Mason Johnson 4-6, 6-1, 10-6.

On the doubles side, the Salukis could not replicate their success, as they dropped both matches on the day. Flight #1 saw Florez and Kidera lose a close match to Murray State's team of Clos and Berardo, 9-7. In Flight #2, the Eastern European duo of Spahic and Buryi were bested by the Racers' Luka Milicevic and Johnson, 8-4.

"We played well today and the guys improved each day of this tournament," said head coach Dann Nelson. "Brandon, Chikara, Orhan and Falk each came through big in their singles matches."