University of Illinois
Wisconsin
Men's Tennis Completes Another Perfect Conference Run
April 23, 2000 | Men's Tennis
April 23, 2000
MADISON, Wis. -- For the third consecutive year, the University of Illinois men's tennis team rolled through the Big Ten regular season undefeated.
Giving up one point in two matches over the weekend, Illinois downed Wisconsin 6-1 on Sunday afternoon. Having locked up the league regular season title on Saturday with 7-0 win over Iowa, the Illini improved to 19-3 overall and 10-0 in the Big Ten. Sophomore Jamal Parker clinched the UI win by defeating Dustin Friedman 7-5, 6-3, extending Illinois' conference winning streak to 42 matches.
The Illini opened the match by losing the doubles point. Senior Cary Franklin and junior Graydon Oliver captured UI's only doubles win, going 8-5 over David Chang and Adam Schumacher at No. 1. Senior Jeff Laski paired with sophomore Mike Kosta at No. 2 and fell 9-8 (6) to Stefan Reist and Scott Rutherford. At No. 3, senior Matt Snyder and freshman Shawn Brooke lost 8-4 to Danny Westerman and Jason Gonzaga.
Illinois regrouped and swept the Badgers in singles. Franklin downed Westerman 6-2, 7-5 at No. 1 and Laski defeated Chang 7-6 (4), 6-2 at No. 2. At No. 3, Oliver went 6-1, 6-2 over Reist. Kosta got the 7-5, 7-6 win at No. 5 over Rutherford and at No. 6, Snyder defeated Bobby Croll 6-4, 6-2.
"The team's lack of execution in doubles motivated them to win 12 out of 12 sets in singles," Head coach Craig Tiley. "It's a great accomplishment to close the regular season undefeated again, and it's a good springboard going into the Big Ten Championships."
Owning the No. 1 seed, Illinois travels to Bloomington, Ind. April 27-30 for the conference championships.
Illinois 6, Wisconsin 1
Illinois is listed first
1. Cary Franklin d. Danny Westerman 6-2, 7-5
2. Jeff Laski d. David Chang 7-6 (4), 6-2
3. Graydon Oliver d. Stefan Reist 6-1, 6-2
4. Jamal Parker d. Dustin Friedman 7-5, 6-3 **
5. Mike Kosta d. Scott Rutherford 7-5, 7-6
6.Matt Snyder d. Bobby Croll 6-4, 6-2
1. Franklin/Oliver d. Chang/Adam Schumacher 8-5
2. Laski/Kosta lost to Reist/Rutherford 9-8 (6)
3. Shawn Brooke/Snyder lost to Westerman/Jason Gonzaga 8-4
** clinching win
