March 9, 2000

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Fighting Illini netters flexed their regional muscles and downed Notre Dame 5-2 at the Atkins Tennis Center Thursday night.

Illinois, now 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten, defeated its top rival in Region IV by winning two of the three doubles matches and taking four of the six singles matches. Senior Jeff Laski clinched the match with a 7-6(1), 5-7, 6-3 score over Notre Dame's Casey Smith at the No. 2 position, while junior Graydon Oliver defeated Matt Daly at the No. 3 spot 6-1, 6-3. In his debut at No. 4 singles, sophomore Mike Kosta easily downed Aaron Talarico 6-2, 6-2. Freshman Shawn Brooke saw singles action for the first time this season, posting a 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3 win over Notre Dame's Andrew Laflin. Senior Cary Franklin was posted his first loss of the season, with a 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6(5) match against No. 8 Ryan Sachire.

"We played very well tonight," said Head Coach Craig Tiley. "Our doubles teams played better and it was encouraging to see us overcome some recent tough losses and turn it around."

In doubles the Fighting Illini duo of Franklin and Oliver defeated ND's Sachire and Talarico 8-2 at the No. 2 spot, while Brooke and senior Matt Snyder picked up a win at the No. 3 position with a 9-7 victory over Smith and James Malhame. The tandem of Laski/Parker fell 8-3 to the Fighting Irish's Javier Taborga and Talarico.

Illinois, ranked 10th in this week's poll, will hit the road for the Blue Gray Classic in Montgomery, Ala. next week for the four-day event. The Blue Grey Classic traditionally invites the top twenty teams in the country to the meet, and this will be the fourth year Illinois has participated.

"I think that we can win, if we play consistently." Tiley said. "It"s usually a really fun event and we have high expectations for ourselves."

The Illini are back in home action on April 1 when they host Michigan on "Advantage Illinois Day".

1. Ran Sachire (ND) def. Cary Franklin          6-7(4), 7-6(4), 7-6(5)
2. Jeff Laski (Ill) def. Casey Smith            7-6(1), 5-7, 6-3
3. Graydon Oliver (Ill) def. Matt Daly          6-1, 6-3
4. Mike Kosta (Ill) def. Aaron Talarico         6-2, 6-2
5. Javier Taborga (ND) def. Jamal Parker        4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4
6. Shawn Brooke (Ill) def. Andrew Laflin        6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3

1. Taborga/Talarico (ND) def. Laski/Parker      8-3
2. Franklin/Oliver (Ill) def. Sachire/Miller    8-2
3. Brooke/Snyder (Ill) def. Smith/Malhame       9-7