University of Illinois
Tennessee (M)
No. 8 Illinois Defeats No. 13 Tennessee
February 20, 2000 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 20, 2000
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Gearing up for the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships, the University of Illinois men's tennis team outlasted No. 13 Tennessee 4-3 on Sunday afternoon from the Atkins Tennis Center.
Illinois, now 4-0 on the year and 1-0 in the Big Ten, heads into this week's national indoor championships with four straight victories over ranked opponents, including three teams in the top 20. In one of their closest contests, senior Cary Franklin sealed the Illini victory with a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 win over Tennessee's Tate Roberts at No. 1 singles. The difference in the match was the doubles play of Illinois as each team collected three wins in singles. The Illini earned their doubles point with a sweep of the Volunteers.
"We didn't play well today, and we're going to have to play a lot better at national indoors," Head Coach Craig Tiley said. "I expect we will step it up and win the tournament (this week)."
Ranked ninth in the nation, senior Jeff Laski and sophomore Jamal Parker ran their record to 15-3, winning 8-4 against the Vols' Peter Handoyo and Andy Crews at No. 1 doubles. Franklin and junior Graydon Oliver dismissed Roberts and Adam Carey 8-4 at No. 2 and freshman Shawn Brooke and senior Matt Snyder downed Mark Fitzpatrick and Paul Podbury 8-4 at No. 3.
The Volunteers would answer with three wins in singles. Oliver lost 6-4, 6-2 to Carey at No. 3. Podbury defeated sophomore Royce Ramey 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 and at No. 5, Parker was defeated by Fitzpatrick 7-5, 6-4. Sophomore Mike Kosta remained perfect for the spring with a 6-1, 7-5 victory against Crews at No. 6. Laski got the 7-5, 6-2 decision at No. 2 against Handoyo. Coming back after losing the second-set tiebreaker 7-4, Franklin outlasted Roberts 6-4 in the third.
"There are some spots where we need to pick it up and work harder, but it is huge for us to go into national indoors undefeated," Franklin said.
Illinois, currently ranked eighth in the country, has been a finalist at the indoor championships the past two seasons. The championships take place in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 24-27.
No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 13 Tennessee
February 20, 2000
Atkins Tennis Center - Urbana, Illinois
Illinois 4, Tennessee 3
Singles
1. Cary Franklin (IL) d. Tate Roberts (TN) 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 ** 2. Jeff Laski (IL) d. Peter Handoyo (TN) 7-5, 6-2 3. Adam Carey (TN) d. Graydon Oliver (IL) 6-4, 6-2 4. Peter Podbury (TN) d. Royce Ramey (IL) 6-2, 6-4 5. Mark Fitzpatrick (TN) d. Jamal Parker (IL) 7-5, 6-4 6. Mike Kosta (IL) d. Andy Crews (TN) 6-1, 7-5
Doubles
1. Laski/Parker (IL) d. Handoyo/Crews (TN) 8-4 2. Franklin/Oliver (IL) d. Roberts/Carey (TN) 8-4 3. Shawn Brooke/Matt Snyder d. Fitzpatrick/Podbury 8-4
** clinching win
Illinois: 4-0, 1-0
Tennessee: 6-2, 2-0
