EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Austin Peay State University men's tennis team received its toughest test of the 2016 slate, Saturday, falling 6-3 to Southern Indiana at the Evansville Tennis Center.
The Screaming Eagles (2-0) placed 32nd nationally in the ITA preseason rankings, giving APSU (0-3) a strong non-conference challenge to gain experience moving forward. It's the first time since 2007 the Governors have gone winless in their first three spring matches.
Doubles matches counted one point each, the first time this season Austin Peay has participated in this format. The Govs went 1-2 in doubles action, with junior Manuel Montenegro and newcomer Almantas Ozelis earning the lone win after beating Samuel Kiladejo and Paul Forichon, 9-8. USI's Jack Joyce and Joel Stern defeated James Mitchell and Chad Woodham, 8-1, while James Hardiman and Aaron Barris narrowly walked away with a win over Aleh Drobysh and Alex Kartsonis, 8-6.
In singles play, Austin Peay had strong play from the top of the lineup, with Montenegro and Ozelis each claiming victories from the No. 1 and 2 positions, respectively. Montenegro knocked off Kiladejo, 6-1, 6-1, and Ozelis outdueled Illia Karelin, 6-1, 6-4.
However, Southern Indiana picked up the additional points on the evening. Hardiman edged Drobysh, 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, Barris escaped over Mitchell, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, Joyce defeated Kartsonis, 6-4, 6-2, and lastly, from No. 6, Forichon triumphed over Woodham, 6-3, 7-6.
Austin Peay will reorganize next week before traveling to Southern Illinois, Feb. 26, to challenge the Salukis at Noon.
Singles
No. 1 – Manuel Montenegro (APSU) def. Samuel Kiladejo (USI), 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 – Almantas Ozelis (APSU) def. Illia Karelin (USI), 6-1, 6-4
No. 3 – James Hardiman (USI) def. Aleh Drobysh (APSU), 6-7, 6-1, 6-3
No. 4 – Aaron Barris (USI) def. James Mitchell (APSU), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
No. 5 – Jack Joyce (USI) def. Alex Kartsonis (APSU), 6-4, 6-2
No. 6 – Paul Forichon (USI) def. Chad Woodham (APSU), 6-3, 7-6
Doubles
No. 1 – Montenegro/Ozelis (APSU) def. Kiladejo/Forichon (USI), 9-8
No. 2 – Joyce/Stern (USI) def. Mitchell/Woodham (APSU), 8-1
No. 3 – Hardiman/Barris (USI) def. Drobysh/Kartsonis (APSU), 8-6
