University of Illinois
Texas
Illini Drop 4-3 Heartbreaker to Texas
February 20, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 20, 2011
SEATTLE - Despite capturing its second doubles point of the season, the eighth-seeded Illini men's tennis team (6-4) came up just short to fifth-seeded Texas (9-1), 4-3, Sunday evening in the consolation round and final day of action at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. Top-seeded Virginia and No. 3 Tennessee advanced to the finals earlier today and will play for the tournament title on Monday.
Illinois got off to a solid start in doubles, as seniors Abe Souza and Johnny Hamui knocked off the No. 2 doubles team in the country, Ed Corrie and Jean Andersen, 8-6, before juniors Roy Kalmanovich and Dennis Nevolo clinched the point with an 8-2 victory over Daniel Whitehead and Vasko Mladenov.
Sophomore Stephen Hoh carried the momentum over to singles, winning his match in straight sets over Sudanawa Sitaram, 6-1, 6-2. It was Hoh's 15th win of the year, good for second on the team, and sixth in his last nine matches. The Longhorns claimed wins at Nos. 1 and 3 to even the score at two apiece, before No. 33 Hamui collected his eighth win of the season with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 61 Kellen Damico.
A loss at the No. 4 spot set the stage for the deciding match between No. 65 Souza and David Holiner. Souza outlasted Holiner in the first set, 7-6 (0), but the Longhorn stormed back over the next two sets, 6-3, 6-4, to secure the 4-3 win for Texas.
The Illini will return to action on Friday, March 4 to host a doubleheader against Ball State at 10 a.m. and Illinois State at 3 p.m. at Atkins Tennis Center.
Match Results
#5 Texas 4, #9 Illinois 3
Singles competition
1. #91 Ed Corrie (UT) def. #8 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) 6-3, 6-3
2. #33 Johnny Hamui (ILL) def. #61 Kellen Damico (UT) 6-2, 6-4
3. #93 Vasko Mladenov (UT) def. KU Singh (ILL) 6-4, 6-4
4. Daniel Whitehead (UT) def. Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
5. David Holiner (UT) def. #65 Abe Souza (ILL) 6-7 (0-7), 6-3, 6-4
6. Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Sudanawa Sitaram (UT) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Abe Souza/Johnny Hamui (ILL) def. #2 Ed Corrie/Jean Andersen (UT) 8-6
2. #27 Kellen Damico/David Holiner (UT) vs. Connor Roth/Stephen Hoh (ILL) 5-5, unfinished
3. Roy Kalmanovich/Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Daniel Whitehead/Vasko Mladenov (UT) 8-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,3,1,2,4,5)
