Spartan Doubles Team Finished at National Clay Courts
10/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 15, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men?s tennis doubles team of Francisco Trinidad (Mexico City, Mex.) and Ken Kigongo (Bradenton, Fla.) lost its second straight match today at the Reebok/ITA National Clay Court Championships, in Austin, Texas. The two opened in the Main Draw and lost their first match. They opened in the consolation bracket today and were the No. 7 seeds overall. Both Spartans were defeated in their final matches in the men?s singles-qualifying round on Wednesday. Had they won, both would have moved on the singles main draw.
The team of Cary Franklin and Graydon Oliver from Illinois defeated Kigongo and Trinidad 7-5, 6-3. The MSU tandem returns as the Spartans? top doubles team and is currently ranked 12th in the nation. They received an automatic berth into the Main Draw.
The Reebok/ITA All-American Championships have been played annually since 1979. A number of its past participants have enjoyed successful professional tennis careers, including this year?s U.S. Open finalist and Lansing native Todd Martin. This is the ninth straight year that the second leg of the ITA Grand Slam is taking place at the University of Texas. It is the largest NCAA Division I tennis tournament in the country. The ITA Grand Slam also includes the T. Rowe Price National Clay Court Championships, the Rolex National Indoor Championships and NCAA Championships.
MSU has its first home action of the season starting this Friday through Sunday when it hosts the Advantage Spartans Invitational. Competing in the tournament will be DePaul, Louisville, Illinois State, Western Michigan, and Big Ten-rival Iowa. All matches will take place at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Courts. In case of inclement weather play will be moved to the MSU Indoor Tennis Facility. Michigan State will also host this year?s Big Ten Indoor Championships, January 15-17.
Singles Results 10/12/99 W Francisco Trinidad (MSU) def. Gustavo Gomez (ETSU) 6-3, 6-3 W Ken Kigongo (MSU) def. Tom Dalby (UAB) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 10/13/99 L Chris Sands (UCLA) def. Francisco Trinidad MSU) 6-1, 6-4 L Marc Legris (NMSU) def. Ken Kigongo (MSU) 6-3, 6-3 Doubles Results 10/14/99 L Fitzpatrick/Handoyo (UT) def. Kigongo/Trinidad (MSU) 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2 10/15/99 L Franklin/Oliver (Ill.) def. Kigongo/Trinidad (MSU) 7-5, 6-3