The Saint Louis University men’s tennis team was shutout 7-0 against the ranked Memphis Tigers on Sunday. The loss continues a string of three losses against ranked teams for the Billikens, since their 4-3 win over unranked Western Illinois University in the first match of the season.
No. 1 singles player sophomore Ikaika Jobe began the meet with a close match against Memphis player Ben Stapp, losing 6-4, 6-7, 6-4.
The two squared off again in the doubles round, but Jobe and SLU player Tom de Larzac lost to Stapp and Memphis player John Walker 8-2.
The closest match of the day came from No. 5 singles player junior Sanjeev Paramanathan, who lost to Brendan Malarkey 6-2, 4-6, and then 10-8 in a tie breaking round.
“I’m really pleased with Ikaika’s and Sanjeev’s performances despite the loss. Ikaika is a sophomore, but still makes good decisions on the court and has proved that he’s up there with the best players in the country. Sanjeev lost close and is a hard competitor,” said coach John Zych.
The Billiken’s next meet is Feb. 15 against Bradley University.
No. 2 singles player Lance Vodicka, who lost 6-3 and 6-0 on Sunday, said “Bradley isn’t a ranked team, but we want this win.”
The women’s tennis team won 4-3 in their first home match against Arkansas State University. In the No. 1 singles bracket, Melisa Lemus defeated Lega Geme, 7-6, 6-3. Geme is ranked 77th nationally. Vicki Zielinski won the No. 2 singles division, 6-3, 6-4, while Sandra Simunic lost in the No. 3 singles competition and Amy O’Handley dropped the No. 4 match.
Melissa Cutler and Erin Kersten picked up wins in the No. 5 and No. 6 slots.
In doubles play, Lemus and Zielinski defeated Geme and Megan McCoy, 9-7. Simunic and O’Handley lost the No. 2 doubles division, but Cutler and Kersten picked up a win in the third doubles spot.