University of Illinois
Washington
Illini Blank Washington, 7-0
January 30, 2010 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 30, 2010
URBANA, Ill. - The top-seeded Illini men's tennis team (2-1) handed third-seeded Washington (5-1) its first loss of the season and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Team Indoor Championships with a 7-0 victory Saturday night at Atkins Tennis Center. With the win, Illinois secured a bid into the final 16 of the tournament hosted by the University of Virginia, Feb. 12-15 in Charlottesville, Va.
"I'm thrilled for our guys," head coach Brad Dancer said. "We understand we're up against a lot this year in terms of our schedule and experience with some different guys in our lineup. We had good energy in doubles, which I thought was really, really important. In singles, it was really the Marek, Abe and Dennis show tonight. All three of them were so focused and locked in on what they were doing. They all played good players and felt comfortable with their tactics and what they were trying to do."
For the second straight night, the Illini jumped on top early in doubles, as juniors Abe Souza and Connor Roth knocked off Tobi Obernaus and Brad Bator, 8-5, and junior Johnny Hamui and sophomore Dennis Nevolo secured the point shortly after with an 8-6 victory over Derek Drabble and Martin Kildahl.
Illinois refused to let up in singles, as senior Marek Czerwinski quickly defeated Drabble, 6-0, 6-3, and Souza followed with his 12th victory of the season, 6-1, 6-3 over Martin Kildahl. No. 43 Nevolo followed suit moments later with his 12th win of the season as well, a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan at No. 1 singles to clinch the victory for the Illini.
The remaining three Illini each won hard-fought three-set matches, as Hamui topped Kyle McMorrow, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 1-0 (10-0), freshman Stephen Hoh defeated Obernaus, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Roth downed Bator, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
Before the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, Illinois will hit the road for two tough nonconference matches next weekend, beginning at No. 18 Duke on Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. CT.
Match Results
#15 Illinois 7, #26 Washington 0
Singles competition
1. #43 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. J. Nedunchezhiyan (WASH) 6-4, 6-2
2. Johnny Hamui (ILL) def. Kyle McMorrow (WASH) 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 1-0 (10-0)
3. Marek Czerwinski (ILL) def. Derek Drabble (WASH) 6-0, 6-3
4. Abe Souza (ILL) def. Martin Kildahl (WASH) 6-1, 6-3
5. Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Tobi Obenaus (WASH) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. Connor Roth (ILL) def. Brad Bator (WASH) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Johnny Hamui/Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Derek Drabble/Martin Kildahl (WASH) 8-6
2. Marek Czerwinski/Stephen Hoh (ILL) vs. Kyle McMorrow/J. Nedunchezhiyan (WASH) 6-7, unfinished
3. Abe Souza/Connor Roth (ILL) def. Tobi Obenaus/Brad Bator (WASH) 8-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (3,4,1,6,2)
