Sept. 16, 2005

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette men's tennis team put up a good effort today in the first day of competition at the Ball State Invitational in Muncie, Ind. Sophomore Greg Sirotek was the only Golden Eagle to defeat opponents in both first and second rounds of action.

"We let a few opportunities slip away from us today and we also had a few guys play really well," Coach Steve Rodecap said. "It was a pretty good start for us."

Sirotek first took down Bradley's Michel Macara-Chivil, 6-4, 6-3. He then matched up with Xavier's Raees Ismail later in the day, beating him in three sets, 1-6, 6-3, 10-7. Sirotek will play Western Michigan's Jeff French tomorrow in the quarter-finals.

"Greg was playing really well going into the tournament and I was happy with both his matches today," said Rodecap. "He has made a big jump and stepped it up a level this year."

Freshman Eric Fleming had a bye in the first round and then took down Xaver's Rustin Rews, 6-2, 7-6 advancing him to the quarter-finals of the Flight C bracket where he will face Northern Illinois' Biego Zagarra-Ballon.

Eigis Vedrickas and Brett Binkley both advanced in the first round and then lost in the second round in a third set tie break. Vedrickas fell to Illinois State's Yohann Nograbat, 6-1, 4-6, 10-8. Binkley was taken down by Adam Ford of Northern Illinois, 6-1, 3-6, 10-6.

"If we would have won both tie breakers it would have really changed the shape of our day," Rodecap said. "Instead of a good day it would have been an excellent day for us."

Freshman Stephen Shao saw action in Flight A, taking down Jeremy Miller of Xavier in the first round, 6-4, 6-1. Jose Orazco of Western Michigan took the second round from Shao, 7-5, 6-3.

In doubles action the team of Ian Kawas and Vedrickas beat Illinois State's tandem of Alfredo Lagarda and Albart Renard, 9-7 in Flight A. Brett Binkley teamed up with Fleming to defeat IUPUI's Ronnie Pedro and Nick Tarvin, 8-2 in Flight B.

"Eigis and Ian had a good win at doubles," Rodecap said, "and it was the first match they've ever played together."

Rodecap was pleased with the effort by his squad in their opening day of play.

"It's the first event, we came out and it wasn't our best but it was good to get a few matches under our belt. We'll give it another full day tomorrow."

The Golden Eagles will return to the courts tomorrow with the quarter-final matches getting underway at 8:00 a.m.

-COMPLETE RESULTS-

Flight A Singles
Round of 32--EigisVedrickas (Marquette) def. Javier Saab (IUPUI) 6-4, 6-2
Ian Kawas (Marquette) def. Evgeny Samoylov (Bradley) Wd (Inj)
Stphen Saho (Marquette) def. Jeremy Miller (Xavier) 6-4, 6-1
Round of 16--Yohann Nograbat (Illinois State) def. Vedrickas 6-1, 4-6, 10-8
Jarrod Epkey (Ball State) def. Kawas 6-3, 6-3
Jose Orazco (Western Michigan) def. Shao 7-5, 6-3
Consolation 1st Round--Kawas def. Ronnie Pedro (IUPUI) 6-2, 6-2

Flight B Singles
Round of 32--Rob Simpson (Xavier) def. Pete Van Lieshout (Marquette) 6-2, 6-4
Greg Sirotek (Marquette) def. Michel Macara-Chivil (Bradley) 6-4, 6-3
Djordje Uskokovic (Illinois State) def. Mario Lopez (Marquette) 6-3, 6-0
Brett Binkley (Marquette) def. Mike Diecluc (Xavier) 6-0, 6-1
Round of 16--Sirotek def. Raees Ismail (Xavier) 1-6, 6-3, 10-7
Adam Ford (Northern Illinois) def. Binkley 6-1, 3-6, 10-6
Consolation 1st Round--Van Lieshout def. Landry Nzudie (IPFW) 6-4, 6-1
Lopez def. Nathan Jones (IPFW) 6-0, 6-3

Flight C Singles
Round of 32--Eric Fleming (Marquette) bye
Round of 16--Fleming def. Rustin Reys (Xavier) 6-2, 7-6

Flight A Doubles
Round of 16--Lofgren/Metully (Bradley) def. Shao/Van Lieshout (Marquette) 8-5
Kawas/Vedrickas (Marquette) def. Lagarda/Renard (Illinois State) 9-7

Flight B Doubles
Round of 16--Binkley/Fleming (Marquette) def. Pedro/Tarvin (IUPUI) 8-2