WICHITA, Kan. ? The Wichita State men's tennis team sent its seniors out in style, making quick work of Illinois State in a 7-0 win Sunday morning on Senior Day at Genesis Health Club. Senior Thiago Dos Santos moved into a tie for seventh place on the WSU all-time singles wins list with the 86th win of his career at WSU.
Adrian Chermaci opened the Shockers' match with a 6-2, 6-0 win that took just under an hour to complete. The win gave the Shockers the No. 5 point, and the early 1-0 advantage. Tiago Dos Santos added to the lead with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Daniel Tobar in the No. 3 match, while Albert Ballesta added a 6-4, 6-3 win over Nuno Jacinto in the No. 2 match.
It took tiebreakers, but the Shockers held off a Redbird rally in the remaining two matches to secure the sweep. Jonathan Obrist defeated Filip Miljevic, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in the No. 4 match, while Tiago Espirito Santo defeated Luka Marinkovic 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the No. 1 match.
The WSU seniors were the only Shockers on the floor in doubles play. Playing in the No. 2 doubles match, Tiago Espirito Santo and Kevin Gardner defeated Illinois State's Nuno Jacinto and Michael Hobson, 8-2, while Thiago Dos Santos and Albert Ballesta dropped the only match of the day to the Redbirds in an 8-6 decision in the No. 1 match.
The Shockers were awarded the No. 6 singles point, and a No. 3 doubles win as the Redbirds were forced to forfeit those matches due to a shortage of players.
With the win, the Shockers improve to 16-3 on the season, and 4-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play. They travel to Creighton April 17, before concluding the regular season Apr. 18 against undefeated Drake.
Wichita State 7, Illinois State 0
SINGLES
1. Tiago Espirito Santo (WSU) def. Luka Marinkovic (ILS), 6-3, 7-6 (4)
2. Albert Ballesta (WSU) def. Nuno Jacinto (ILS), 6-4, 6-3
3. Thiago Dos Santos (WSU) def. Daniel Tobar (ILS), 6-1, 6-3
4. Jonathan Obrist (WSU) def. Filip Miljevic (ILS), 6-2, 6-0
5. Adrian Chermaci (WSU) def. Michael Hobson (ILS), 6-2, 6-0
6. Matt Teivans (WSU) def. NO PLAYER (ILS), forfeit.
DOUBLES
1. Marinkovic/Tobar (ILS) def. Dos Santos/Ballesta, 8-6
2. Espirito Santo/Gardner (WSU) def. Jacinto/Hobson (ILS), 8-2
3. Teivans/McCormick (WSU) def. NO PLAYER (ILS), forfeit.
--Wichita State--
