APSU Sports Information
Evansville, IN – 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.
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, February 26th, to challenge the Salukis at Noon.
Box Score
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
