INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy men's tennis team defeated the Illinois State Redbirds in a tightly contested match on Friday afternoon, 5-2. The Jags earned the doubles point and four singles points to secure the victory.
 
In doubles play, the Jags took the early 1-0 lead with wins in the No. 2 and 3 spots. Kamil Kozerski and Noah Viste collected the No. 2 win with a score of 6-4 while Steven Paz and Will Thurin took the No. 3 match at 6-3.
 
After earning the early lead, the Jags moved to singles play. The Redbirds tied the match quickly as Viste fell in the No. 2 match, 6-2, 6-1. Eli Mercer then won his No. 4 match (7-5, 6-4), retaking the match lead for the Jags, 2-1. The other four singles matches were all evenly matched, with each going into three sets.
 
Pumiphat Sukkho and Thurin both concluded their singles matches at the same time with both IU Indy and the Redbirds earning a point, 3-2. Sukkho fell in the No. 5 spot (6-7, 6-4, 6-4) while Thurin earned the No. 6 singles point in three sets, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.
 
With the Jags holding a 3-2 lead, Paz earned the No. 3 singles point to clinch the match at 4-2. Paz defeated Illinois State's Tim Ostro in comeback fashion after dropping the first set, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Kozerski took the No. 1 singles point to finish out the match, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6.
 
IU Indy improves to 3-3 and will next host Lipscomb at West Indy Racquet Club tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2:00 PM.