The Salukis topped their record of a year ago of 5-12 season record and a 2-7 MVC mark with an 8-13 overall record and 3-6 in MVC play this year. The small improvement resulted in a seventh seed in the 1998 MVC Championships, one seed higher than in 1997.

The Salukis continued their progress as they finished sixth in the MVC Championships at Illinois State University this weekend.

The first two matches of the weekend went as planned for coach Brad Iftner as the Salukis defeated the No. 10 seed University of Northern Iowa 4-2. They moved on to face No. 2 seed Indiana State University, losing 4-0.

Advertisement

After losing to Creighton University in their final match of the regular season 4-3, the Salukis gained revenge by defeating the Bluejays 4-1, to guarantee a fifth- or sixth-place finish. The Salukis defeated No. 5 seed Illinois State University 4-3 during the regular season but fell 4-1 to claim sixth.

When I came here two years ago, my job was not to maintain the level of the program, Iftner said. We are making small strides, and we are definitely improving.

SIUC defeated the University of Northern Iowa 6-1 during the regular season and expected the same result as they began the tournament Friday morning. The Salukis started the match slowly, dropping the doubles point and falling 1-0 to begin the singles matches.

The Salukis finally got it going and picked up victories in the top-four spots, overcoming the deficit to claim the 4-2 victory.

We were not playing to our potential in the doubles, Iftner said. We looked tired and [UNI] played very well, maybe as well as they are capable of.

The Salukis entered their second match of the weekend as the underdog to Indiana State, who handed SIUC a 7-0 defeat during the regular season. Indiana State swept every match again to claim an easy 4-0 victory.

Brad Iftner knew that the final two opponents of the championships would be a mirror image of the talent level of his own team. The Salukis faced Creighton, to which they lost 4-3 in the final match of the regular season, and Illinois State University, which they defeated 4-3 in the season.

Advertisement*

SIUC began the match with Creighton strong, picking up two victories in the doubles matches to start singles play 1-0. Senior Mick Smyth and junior Jack Oxler defeated Creighton’s Haakon Nygaard and Carl Heine 8-2, while freshman Kenny Hutz and senior Brian Etzkin defeated Magnus Muller and Brandon Greenwood, 8-3.

I couldn’t ask for a better way to start, Iftner said. We gave them no hope going in the singles matches.

In singles competition, Hutz defeated Nygaard 6-1, 6-3, in the No. 1 spot, while Smyth defeated Heine 7-5, 6-1, in the No. 2 spot. Junior Brian Ingle stepped up to give the Salukis their fourth point for the victory with a defeat of Greenwood 6-3, 6-2.

That is the best I have ever seen (Ingle) play all year, Iftner said. He could not have chosen a better time to play his best to give us the winning point.

The victory over Creighton guaranteed SIUC either a fifth- or sixth-place finish. The Salukis fell 4-1 to Illinois State University to claim sixth place.

The Redbirds dominated the Salukis’ doubles teams, sweeping the two matches played. In their final matches of their careers, Smyth and Etzkin led the Saluki fight but came up short.

After two previous defeats to Chris Klepper, Smyth ended his SIUC career defeating Klepper 7-5, 6-2. Etzkin refused to give up in his final match but eventually fell to Dan Rosu 6-0, 7-6. Etzkin began the second set down 4-0, retaliated to tie the set at 6-6 but lost the tie-breaker 12-10.

Brian is such a fighter, Iftner said. And he would not have it any other way. It will be a match I will never forget.

In his second season as SIUC men’s tennis coach, Iftner knows that this season has been another step forward and should continue next season.

With recruiting and hard work, I think we can be a top-four (squad) next season, Iftner said.

Wichita State University defeated Indiana State University in the championship to claim the MVC crown. Southwest Missouri State University claimed third place after defeating Drake University.

The SIUC men’s tennis team finished the regular season 8-13 overall and 3-6 in the MVC. The Salukis finished the MVC championships sixth with a 2-2 record.