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Wednesday April 9, 2008
By Robert Jackson
Sports Editor
Leave it to college students to do something at the last minute.
On Saturday the UIS men’s tennis team beat McKendree 5-4, needing a comeback victory from Jose Talavera against Evganiy Nigmatyanou to secure victory.
The Prairie Stars kicked off the day sweeping McKendree in doubles action. Incidentally, the weather, which has reshuffled the Prairie Stars sporting events this spring, has helped the tennis team, according to head coach Manny Velasco.
Velasco said because of limited court availability the team has had to play more doubles matches. The practice showed as the team went 4-2 in doubles action during the Hack Kellner Invitational.
The Prairie Stars struggled with singles play throughout the tournament. Part of that, according to Velasco, are players approaching singles matches still thinking about what happened during doubles.
“You have to turn the page over and start all over again,” Velasco said.
After a quick 3-0 start to the day the Prairie Stars fell behind 3-4, losing four straight singles matches.
Senior Kino Phetthongsy, however, managed to beat Ben Schloesser in three sets 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.
“Kino is very tenacious. He works hard,” Velasco said of his player. With Kino now being a senior, Velasco sees a refocused player that came through with a key victory against McKendree last Saturday.
Tied 4-4 versus McKendree, the Prairie Stars needed a win from their only player still competing, Talavera.
Pressure situations, according to Velasco, draw out the best in UIS’ junior. “When we need something to be done he comes through.”
Talavera cruised to a 6-3 win in the opening set against Nigmatyanou but stumbled to a 0-6 loss in the second set. As other players wrapped up their matches, players from both teams stood courtside to watch the third set of the singles match.
“Jose was struggling so I just wanted to get out there and try to get him fired up because his match decided the win,” teammate Pat Callahan said.
Talavera fell behind early in the set but persevered to bring the score 4-5. After the players traded shots, Nigmatyanou smashed a forehand into the net. The event encapsulated Talavera’s comeback victory, according to Callahan.
“Jose wasn’t going to beat himself,” Callahan said. “He was going to make the kid keep hitting good shots and he couldn’t sustain it.”
After the unforced error, Talavera routed Nigmatyanou in the final two games to win the third and decisive set 7-5 and secure a UIS victory.
UIS hits the road for their final regular season match up. The team plays McKendree today at 2:30 p.m in Lebanon.
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