Eagles Advance to Semifinals of GLVC Tournament
ROMEOVILLE, Ill.—The No. 39 University of Southern Indiana men’s tennis team defeated Rockhurst University, 5-0, in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament Friday afternoon.
USI (16-4) took a commanding 3-0 lead into singles play after sweeping doubles competition. Junior Aaron Barris (Marietta, Georgia) and reigning GLVC Player of the Week James Hardiman (Blackwell Bristol, United Kingdom) earned the first win with an 8-3 score. It is the duo’s 14th-consecutive win, which is good enough to tie for second all-time in the USI record book.
Sophomore Samuel Kiladejo (London, England) and junior Paul Forichon (Nimes, France) earned an 8-6 win. Sending the Eagles into singles play with a 3-0 lead, the senior tandem of Jack Joyce (Bournemouth, England) and Joel Stern (Mjoelby, Sweden) picked up a tough 9-8 (4-0) victory.
Barris earned a quick, 6-1, 6-3, singles victory over Joe Ibarra of Rockhurst at number-six. Sealing the opening round victory for USI was Joyce. The senior picked up the victory at number-two by a score of 6-2, 6-2.
USI is making their eighth-consecutive appearance in the semifinal round of the GLVC Tournament. For the third straight year, the Eagles defeated Rockhurst to open the conference tournament.
The Eagles return to action Saturday at 9 a.m. when they take on No. 41 Drury University in the semifinals. Drury defeated McKendree University, 5-3, in the quarterfinals on Friday.
USI looks to avenge two-consecutive GLVC semifinal round defeats by the Panthers
Note: Due to rain in the forecast for the Romeoville, Illinois, area, Saturday’s semifinal schedule maybe altered. Be sure to check back to GoUSIEagles.com or follow @USIAthletics on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates.
University of Southern Indiana Tennis
#3W Rockhurst vs #2E Southern Indiana (Apr 29, 2016)
#39 #2E Southern Indiana 5, #3W Rockhurst 0
Apr 29, 2016 at Plainfield, IL (Plainfield East HS)
Singles competition
1. Samuel Kiladejo (USI) vs. Oskar Unger (RU) unfinished
2. Jack Joyce (USI) def. Decho Valev (RU) 6-2, 6-2
3. James Hardiman (USI) vs. Daniel Chmielewski (RU) unfinished
4. Joel Stern (USI) vs. Jonas Stropus (RU) unfinished
5. Paul Forichon (USI) vs. Nicolas Riveros (RU) unfinished
6. Aaron Barris (USI) def. Joe Ibarra (RU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Samuel Kiladejo/Paul Forichon (USI) def. Oskar Unger/Jonas Stropus (RU) 8-6
2. Joel Stern/Jack Joyce (USI) def. Decho Valev/Daniel Chmielewski (RU) 9-8 (4-0)
3. Aaron Barris/James Hardiman (USI) def. Nicolas Riveros/Joe Ibarra (RU) 8-3
Match Notes
#3W Rockhurst 9-8
#2E Southern Indiana 16-4; National ranking #39; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,2)
2016 GLVC Men’s Tennis Championship Tournament Quarterfinals
