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OMAHA, Neb. – The first of two from Omaha, Nebraska would be a stinging win for Illinois State men’s tennis. The Redbirds were in action against 64th-ranked Creighton on Friday afternoon as it was the ‘Birds who secured a crucial 4-3 win over the Bluejays.
“Wow, what a game. We played some good doubles, but it’s still something we’re constantly working on and unfortunately we’re getting used to losing that point,” said head coach Mark Klysner.
The doubles point was hotly contested with the Redbirds taking an early lead with a No. 2 duo of Emiliano Gonzales and Tin Ostro victory over Creighton’s Alejandro Gandini and Kirtan Patel by a score of 6-4 . The Bluejays then leveled things with a 6-4 win in the top tier, leaving the doubles point until the result on Court 3.
This match would be just as close as the other two, as Creighton’s Oscar Alvarez and Zachary Kuo edged ISU’s Nam Pham and Ming-Chieh Chiu to claim the crucial first point of the match.
As the action moved to the singles, Creighton took a 2-0 lead with a Casey Ross victory over ISU’s Arvid Hjalte by scores of 6-1, 6-0. However, Gonzales put the ‘Birds on the board with a no win. 6 over Creighton’s Patel by a 6-2, 6-4 finish. Nam Pham kept the momentum going as he tied the game at 2-2 with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Matthew Lanahan of Creighton at no. 1.
“Thank you guys for coming out so excited in singles and every time you play on a ranked team you’re still an underdog but damn we stepped it up today and we just earned it at the end of the day. ‘old,’ Klysner said. “
As the programs looked to get ahead, it would be ISU’s Adrian Dibilidox who would give ISU the lead, taking them ahead 3-2, after beating Creighton’s Shin Inoue by a 6- 3, 6-4 to no. 5.
Then, in the deciding result of the match, it was rookie Tomas Valencia who came out on top, earning a 7-5, 6-4 no win. 4 to push ISU ahead 4-2 with just one match result on deck.
The final singles result fell to Creighton’s Gandini against ISU’s Melker Isaksson at no. 3, as the Bluejays won 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to close the gap to the final result 4-3.
“This one feels good, but now we’re gearing up for a battle tomorrow,” Klysner said.
The Redbirds wrap up their stay in Omaha with a battle against Summit League foe Omaha tomorrow afternoon. The first service is fixed at 2:00 p.m.
FINAL SCORE: Illinois State (4), Creighton (3)
Double:
#1 Matthew Lanahan/Casey Ross (CRE) beats. Arvid Hjalte/Adrian Dibildox (ILS) 6-4
#2 Emiliano Gonzales/Tin Ostro (ILS) beats. Kirtan Patel/Alejandro Gandini (CRE) 6-4
#3 Zachary Kuo/Oscar Alvarez (CRE) defeated. Nam Pham/Ming-Chieh Chiu (ILS) 7-5
Simple:
The n°1 Nam Pham (ILS) beats. Matthew Lanahan (CRE) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
#2 Casey Ross (CRE) beats. Arvid Hjalte (ILS) 6-1, 6-0
The n°3 Alejandro Gandini (CRE) beats. Melker Isaksson (ILS) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 Tomas Valencia (ILS) beats. Oscar Alvarez (CRE) 7-5, 6-4
The n°5 Adrian Dibildox (ILS) beats. Shin Inoue (CRE) 6-3, 6-4
#6 Emiliano Gonzales (ILS) def. Kirtan Patel (CRE) 6-2, 6-4
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