Friday, February 5
Muncie, Ind.
2 p.m.
Ball State University
4
vs
3
Xavier University
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Clutch Cardinals Clip Xavier for Another 4-3 Win
February 05, 2021 | Men's Tennis
Orlando clinches victory as BSU men’s tennis team runs winning streak to four
MUNCIE, Ind. -- If the Ball State men's tennis team has demonstrated anything in the early going of the 2021 season it's that the Cardinals have the ability to come through in the clutch.
Friday's home opener against Xavier was more evidence of that.
For the fourth straight match, the Cardinals needed to win a third set in the final match on. Sajin Smith did it against Notre Dame. Chris Adams did it on back-to-back days against Cleveland State. And now you can add Vince Orlando's name to the club of match clinchers.
Orlando took control of a tight one at No. 4 singles with a late break in the only three-setter of the day. Up 4-3 and on serve in the third, the Ball State sophomore broke Xavier's Srdan Pejic at 15 with a commanding return game and then rallied from 15-30 down with three straight points to serve it out and give the Cardinals a 4-3 win.
For the third consecutive match in what is now a four-match winning streak, Ball State (4-1) battled back after dropping the doubles point. It couldn't have been any tighter, coming down to a tiebreaker at No. 3 doubles, but Xavier (0-1) prevailed.
In singles, Eli Herran quickly took down Shashank Reddy, 6-3, 6-4, in the fastest match of the day at No. 6 to put the Cardinals on the board. BSU later added wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions where Thibault de Negri and Adams both pulled away after tight opening sets. Smith's win pushed his record to a perfect 4-0.
But Ball State surrendered points at the No. 1 and No. 5 positions. Danilo Kovacevic fell to top Xavier player and San Diego State transfer Arnaud Restifo at No.1, while Smith dropped two close sets by a single break to Matthew Graft at No. 5.
That left it all in the hands of Orlando who thrived as both full teams looked on. He gave the Cardinals yet another occasion to storm the court in celebration when Pejic's shot sailed off the mark on the first match point.
Friday's match was the first of six straight in Muncie for BSU. Next up is Eastern Illinois in one week on Friday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
Singles Results
1. Arnaud Restifo (XAVIER) def. Danilo Kovacevic (BALLST) 6-2, 6-3
2. Thibault de Negri (BALLST) def. Brett Winters (XAVIER) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
3. Chris Adams (BALLST) def. Cambell Nakayama (XAVIER) 6-4, 6-2
4. Vince Orlando (BALLST) def. Srdan Pejic (XAVIER) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
5. Matthew Graft (XAVIER) def. Sajin Smith (BALLST) 7-5, 6-4
6. Eli Herran (BALLST) def. Shashank Reddy (XAVIER) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles Results
1. Restifo/Graft (XAVIER) def. Adams/Orlando (BALLST) 6-4
2. de Negri/Simmons (BALLST) def. Winters/Nakayama (XAVIER) 6-4
3. Pejic/Reddy (XAVIER) def. Kovacevic/Bonin (BALLST) 7-6 (7-5)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,1,2,5,3,4)
Friday's home opener against Xavier was more evidence of that.
For the fourth straight match, the Cardinals needed to win a third set in the final match on. Sajin Smith did it against Notre Dame. Chris Adams did it on back-to-back days against Cleveland State. And now you can add Vince Orlando's name to the club of match clinchers.
Orlando took control of a tight one at No. 4 singles with a late break in the only three-setter of the day. Up 4-3 and on serve in the third, the Ball State sophomore broke Xavier's Srdan Pejic at 15 with a commanding return game and then rallied from 15-30 down with three straight points to serve it out and give the Cardinals a 4-3 win.
For the third consecutive match in what is now a four-match winning streak, Ball State (4-1) battled back after dropping the doubles point. It couldn't have been any tighter, coming down to a tiebreaker at No. 3 doubles, but Xavier (0-1) prevailed.
In singles, Eli Herran quickly took down Shashank Reddy, 6-3, 6-4, in the fastest match of the day at No. 6 to put the Cardinals on the board. BSU later added wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions where Thibault de Negri and Adams both pulled away after tight opening sets. Smith's win pushed his record to a perfect 4-0.
But Ball State surrendered points at the No. 1 and No. 5 positions. Danilo Kovacevic fell to top Xavier player and San Diego State transfer Arnaud Restifo at No.1, while Smith dropped two close sets by a single break to Matthew Graft at No. 5.
That left it all in the hands of Orlando who thrived as both full teams looked on. He gave the Cardinals yet another occasion to storm the court in celebration when Pejic's shot sailed off the mark on the first match point.
Friday's match was the first of six straight in Muncie for BSU. Next up is Eastern Illinois in one week on Friday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.
Singles Results
1. Arnaud Restifo (XAVIER) def. Danilo Kovacevic (BALLST) 6-2, 6-3
2. Thibault de Negri (BALLST) def. Brett Winters (XAVIER) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
3. Chris Adams (BALLST) def. Cambell Nakayama (XAVIER) 6-4, 6-2
4. Vince Orlando (BALLST) def. Srdan Pejic (XAVIER) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
5. Matthew Graft (XAVIER) def. Sajin Smith (BALLST) 7-5, 6-4
6. Eli Herran (BALLST) def. Shashank Reddy (XAVIER) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles Results
1. Restifo/Graft (XAVIER) def. Adams/Orlando (BALLST) 6-4
2. de Negri/Simmons (BALLST) def. Winters/Nakayama (XAVIER) 6-4
3. Pejic/Reddy (XAVIER) def. Kovacevic/Bonin (BALLST) 7-6 (7-5)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,1,2,5,3,4)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
12
Arnaud Restifo / 0 [XAVIER]
66
23
#2 Singles Match
12
Brett Winters / 0 [XAVIER]
63
76
#3 Singles Match
12
Cambell Nakayama / 0 [XAVIER]
42
66
#4 Singles Match
123
Srdan Pejic / 0 [XAVIER]
563
746
#5 Singles Match
12
Matthew Graft / 0 [XAVIER]
76
54
#6 Singles Match
12
Shashank Reddy / 0 [XAVIER]
43
66
Order of Finish:
6,1,2,5,3,4
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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