University of Illinois
Kentucky
Illini Edged by Kentucky, 4-3
April 7, 2010 | Men's Tennis
April 7, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The 13th-ranked Illini men's tennis team (12-8) fell 4-3 at No. 11 Kentucky (17-7) for the second time this season, as the Wildcats rallied back to capture four singles wins to secure the victory Wednesday afternoon at Boone Tennis Complex. It is just the second time this season the Illini have dropped the match after winning the doubles point.
"It was a tough, tough loss today, but you have to give a lot of credit to Kentucky, they played really well," head coach Brad Dancer said. "We had some chances and the guys battled hard. Marek (Czerwinski) played four match points in the second set tiebreaker. We're taking steps, but we'd like to see results and we've had some great chances for victories against good teams. We just haven't been able to do it yet."
Illinois struck first in doubles, as the 60th-ranked duo of Johnny Hamui and Dennis Nevolo cruised to an 8-3 win over Alex Musialek and Anthony Rossi, before Connor Roth and Stephen Hoh clinched the point with an 8-5 victory over Alberto Gonzalez and Alex Lambropoulos.
Hoh extended the lead to 2-0 with a swift two-set defeat of Graeme Dyce, 6-1, 6-2, but the Wildcats responded by claiming the next two matches at the four and five spots to even the score at two apiece. Thirteenth-ranked Eric Quigley topped No. 35 Nevolo, 6-4, 7-5 to give Kentucky a 3-2 advantage, before No. 85 Abe Souza defeated No. 44 Musialek, 7-5, 6-1 to tie the match at three. With a win on the line, Brad Cox was able to hold off No. 57 Marek Czerwinski in the lone three-setter of the day, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (6), 6-3 to clinch the match for Kentucky.
Souza improved to 9-1 in his last 10 matches with his career-and team-best 26th win of the season and fifth straight, while Hoh picked up his 15th overall victory.
The Illini return home this weekend to host a pair of Big Ten matches, beginning with Minnesota on Saturday at Noon CT at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex.
Match Results
#11 Kentucky 4, #13 Illinois 3
Singles competition
1. #13 Eric Quigley (UK) def. #35 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) 6-4, 7-5
2. #85 Abe Souza (ILL) def. #44 Alex Musialek (UK) 7-5, 6-1
3. Brad Cox (UK) def. #57 Marek Czerwinski (ILL) 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (6-8), 6-3
4. Anthony Rossi (UK) def. Johnny Hamui (ILL) 6-4, 6-2
5. Alberto Gonzalez (UK) def. Connor Roth (ILL) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Graeme Dyce (UK) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #13 Brad Cox/Eric Quigley (UK) def. Marek Czerwinski/Abe Souza (ILL) 8-6
2. Connor Roth/Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Alberto Gonzalez/Alex Lambropoulos (UK) 8-5
3. #60 Johnny Hamui/Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Alex Musialek/Anthony Rossi (UK) 8-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,5,4,1,2,3)
