Men's tennis finishes second in league, Women lose 7-0
Derek Simons
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Sports
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The men's tennis team had its only Summit League loss of the season Thursday against Oral Roberts University (ORU), 4-3. On Friday, the Roos beat South Dakota State (SDU), 7-0, and Centenary, 6-1.
"It was a good week," Head Coach Kendell Hale said. "Oral ended up beating us and clinching the regular season title. We were very, very, very close. They went undefeated and we had the one loss. Between winning it and losing it, you can equate it to like taking a 3-foot putt and missing it."
UMKC started well, winning at the one and three spots in doubles, both by a score of 8-4.
The number three doubles saw the return of sophomore Serge Ristivojevic who had missed most of the season because of an injury.
With all but one of the singles matches finished, the two undefeated teams were tied at 3-all and the outcome of the final point rested on the shoulders of freshman Gustavo Guerin.
He lost the first set 6-0, but returned strong to win the second set, 6-3.
The third set went all the way to a tie-breaker, which Guerin lost 7-6 (6).
Hale had only kind words for the Brazilian.
"Gustavo, being a freshman and he was playing a senior, that made it a little tougher with a guy that has some experience," Hale said.
Now the coach is hoping to win the April 24 and 25 Summit League Championship in Fort Wayne, Ind.
He thinks the team will face Western Illinois in the semi-finals and then possibly ORU again in the finals. The rematch could be a chance for revenge.
"First we have to look at the team we're playing next, Western Illinois," Hale said. "And they're not going to be easy. They're going to come gunning for us. But at least now we know what Oral has."
Hale was particularly pleased to see Ristivojevic back on the court.
"He's looking fine," Hale said. "It's just the longer points that got to him just because he's been out for a while. He played a guy that kept a lot of balls in. It was winding him. I imagine that was part of their strategy."
Ristivojevic played a spot lower than usual so he'd have it a bit easier.
"He had a tough match, but he helped us win the doubles point, so it was a pretty good start," Hale said.
UMKC is now 11-6 on the season (5-1 league). The team has another non-league match before heading to Indiana. On April 15, the Roos will face Northwest Missouri State in a home match at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City.
Women lose 7-0
The women dropped another non-league match, this time against Tulane University.
"I just think there might be some discouragement there after some tough losses," Hale said. "We've got another conference weekend coming up and we just need to be ready and motivated for that."
April 17-19, the Roos travel to Macomb, Ill., with matches scheduled against ORU, Oakland, Centenary and SDU.
"We are in a better spot than we were last year," Hale said. "We are making gradual steps like a majority of our programs. It's just one of those things where I guess I've got to be a little more patient. I'm wanting results right now and it's hard to do when you're rebuilding."
dsimons@unews.com
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