WICHITA - The Shocker men's tennis team joined the women atop the Missouri Valley Conference on Saturday, defeating the No. 1 seed Illinois State, 4-1, to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
For the first time since the 1997-98 season, both the men's and women's tennis teams will head to the NCAAs after winning the MVC tournament. The second-seeded Shockers avenged a 4-3 loss to the Redbirds earlier this month to give the Redbirds the regular-season conference title.
"This is really so cool to win one with the women," Head Coach Brad Louderback said. "Both programs work so hard and it's cool to see that happen for us. It's a great day for Shocker tennis."
Wichita State came out focused and determined to win the doubles point that they let go in the teams' last meeting. Sophomore David Cavalcanti and Matheus Pereira gave the Shocks the early advantage when they topped Filip Miljevic and Skip Span in the No. 3 match, 8-3.
At the top spot, redshirt freshman Sven Kasper and freshman Valentin Mihai stopped play when they defeated Alexander Pelaez and Michael Hobson, 8-4, to clinch the point and give the Shocks the 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
Pereira pushed the lead to 2-0 when he collected his 15th win of the spring against Span in the No. 5 position. Junior Adrian Chermaci all but sealed the deal with his 6-3, 6-3 over Xavier Riart-Ferrer in the No. 6 match.
With the 3-0 lead in hand, the Redbirds got on the board when he toppled the Shockers' No. 3 Mihai, 6-3, 6-3. Junior Vlad Marinescu secured the Shockers' 23rd MVC tournament title by knocking off Filip Miljevic, 6-4, 7-5.
"I'm so happy and proud of them," Louderback said. "It's been our goal the whole year to go out and win a title for Wichita State and go to the NCAA tournament. We've been up and down with our guys this year, but we did it."
Wichita State 4, Illinois State 1
Singles competition
1. Sven Kasper (WSU) vs. Timon Reichelt (ILS) 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
2. Vlad Marinescu (WSU) def. Filip Miljevic (ILS) 6-4, 7-5
3. Alexander Pelaez (ILS) def. Valentin Mihai (WSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. David Cavalcanti (WSU) vs. Matej Zlatkovic (ILS) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
5. Matheus Pereira (WSU) def. Skip Span (ILS) 6-2, 6-2
6. Adrian Chermaci (WSU) def. Xavier Riart-Ferrer (ILS) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Sven Kasper/Valentin Mihai (WSU) def. Alexander Pelaez/Michael Hobson (ILS) 8-4
2. Adrian Chermaci/Vlad Marinescu (WSU) vs. Timon Reichelt/Matej Zlatkovic (ILS) 4-3, unfinished
3. David Cavalcanti/Matheus Pereira (WSU) def. Filip Miljevic/Skip Span (ILS) 8-3
-Wichita State-
