Illinois State University announced on March 31 that its men’s tennis team will begin Summit League play at home against Drake, following a three-match winning streak. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at the Gregory Street Courts, with a backup location at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington if weather conditions require.
The opening of conference play is significant for Illinois State as it marks an opportunity to build momentum and improve their record in league competition. The Redbirds currently hold a 7-10 record this season and are coming off a narrow 4-3 road victory over Butler.
In their recent win, Illinois State secured the doubles point with victories from Tomas Valencia and Adrian Dibildox at No. 1 doubles, and Tin Ostro with Caden Scarlett at No. 2 doubles. In singles action, Valencia has been leading the team with a strong spring performance, posting a 7-3 record and six wins in his last eight matches. Valencia and Dibildox have also won five consecutive matches as a doubles pair.
Drake enters the matchup with an impressive run of form, having won 14 straight matches before their most recent outing. Sam Melaga leads Drake’s singles lineup with an undefeated dual record this spring (12–0), while Arin Menon (12–1) and Jose Hernandez (9–2) have also contributed significantly to the team’s success. In doubles play, Adan Tarquino and Ulysse Verrando have become Drake’s most reliable pairing this season.
According to the official website, Illinois State Redbirds benefits from the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund which supports competitiveness and recruitment efforts for its teams. The program utilizes facilities such as the OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for student-athlete preparation according to official sources. The Redbirds are affiliated with Illinois State University according to official information and compete in NCAA Division I events across various regions as reported by their website.
Fans can access news updates, schedules, rosters, ticket information, merchandise details, photos and more through GoRedbirds.com or via the Illinois State Redbirds App according to official resources.
