April 25, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. - Illinois State men's tennis senior Luka Marinkovic earned a selection to the MVC All-Select Team at the 2008 Missouri Valley Conference annual postseason awards banquet in Omaha, Neb. It is the second time in Marinkovic's career that he has been honored on the team and the fourth time he has been honored as an all-conference player. In 2007, the Uzice, Serbia native was honored as all-conference at No.2 doubles and was all-select for singles. In 2006, Marinkovic was all-conference as the No. 6 singles player.

Marinkovic was the only Redbird to garner All-Conference honors.

"It is a good honor for Luka to have," said head coach Cris James. "It has been a tough year but he has done a great job as team captain and a team leader of continuing to fight the whole way through."

In his senior season, Marinkovic began the year ranked No. 47 in doubles with partner junior Daniel Tobar. In doubles, Marinkovic went 12-7 this spring, including a 9-4 mark at the No. 1 position with Tobar. Marinkovic also earned the MVC Player of the Week award for the week of April 1, in which he captured four matches for the `Birds at the No. 1 position. In singles, the senior compiled a 9-10 mark while playing primarily at the No. 1 spot.

Marinkovic ended Redbird career ranked third all-time in Illinois State history with 80 career doubles wins, and eighth all-time in school history with 72 singles victories.

Drake led the MVC with eight all-conference honorees, including player of the year Dalibor Pavic, freshman of the year Mauricio Ballivian, and coach of the year Chase Hodges.