Shutout for Men’s Tennis

Friday, April 1

Sioux Falls, S.D.

7 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Western Illinois

Sophomore Marco Paulo Castro

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

4/1/2016 10:42:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Jackrabbits down Western Illinois, 7-0

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—The South Dakota State men's tennis team recorded its sixth shutout of the season Friday night with a 7-0 win over Western Illinois in Summit League play at the Huether Family Match Pointe Tennis Center.

With the win, the Jackrabbits improve to 11-8 overall and 1-1 in league play while the Leathernecks fall to 0-11 and 0-3.

"The focus was great tonight and we got the job done. The team did a great job playing their tennis and taking things one point at a time. Now we need to focus on Denver this Sunday," sixth-year head coach Michael Engdahl said. "Denver is the team everyone is chasing and we have the opportunity to go toe to toe with them on our home court. Tonight, we did a good job of staying in the moment. If we do the same Sunday, it will be a great match."

SDSU won its 12^th doubles point of the season, winning all three matches. Senior Mateus Moreira and freshman Emerson Styles extended their win streak to three with a 6-2 win at No. 1. Junior Jonny Higham and sophomore Marco Paulo Castro improved to 5-1 at No. 2 with a 6-0 win.

In singles, Castro won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6 for his fourth consecutive win. Also picking up wins were senior Lovro Curcija at No. 1, senior Henrique Pereira at No. 2, Styles at No. 3, Moreira at No. 4 and junior Lucas Pereira at No. 5.

The Jackrabbits return to action Sunday when they host 47^th-ranked Denver at 1:30 p.m. at the Huether Family Match Pointe Tennis Center.