The Illinois men's tennis team is Big Ten champion - again. For the sixth straight season, Illinois (20-4, 10-0) ended the conference season on top after Sunday's 7-0 win against Ohio State (19-3, 9-1) at Atkins Tennis Center.

After senior Mike Kosta clinched the win with a 6-2, 6-1 decision against Conor Casey, the Buckeyes' hopes for derailing the Illini were dashed, and Illinois' celebration begun.

"I didn't expect it to be like that," said Illinois Head Coach Craig Tiley. "But I did feel like we were the better team, especially when we play the way we did. We've got guys who have been working extremely hard all season. I think the way we dominated today's match shows how hard our guys have worked."

Sophomore Brian Wilson returned to No. 1 singles, where he put on a clinic in a 6-0, 6-2 win against No. 26 Phil Metz. Wilson, ranked 52nd in the nation, is 25-8 on the year.

"Brian (Wilson) is playing world-class tennis right now," Tiley said. "This was probably the best display of tennis that I've seen on Atkins' courts since I have been here."

Sophomore Amer Delic started slowly at the No. 2 spot, but rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 33 Jeremy Wurtzman. Phil Stolt, also an Illini sophomore, defeated Adrian Bohane 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-0, improving his Big Ten mark to 9-1.

Sophomore Michael Calkins remained hot with a 6-3, 6-0 win versus Paul Warkentin. Calkins has reeled off a team-best nine straight wins in 2002. Senior Nathan Zeder beat Vince Ng, 6-4, 6-4.

The No. 3 Illini earned the first point of the match, taking two of three in doubles play. Wilson and Stolt knocked off Casey and Wurtzman 8-3. Kosta and Zeder defeated Metz and Brenton Contini by the same margin.

Coming into the match, the Buckeyes had won 17 consecutive matches, and they were tied with the Illini for the conference lead. Illinois has now won eight straight.

"We believe in ourselves more," Tiley said. "It is great to have a team like Ohio State in the conference because they really push us. Now we have to be prepared to not have a letdown."

The Illini return to action Friday, April 26 at the 2002 Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. Illinois, which earned the No. 1 seed with their conference championship, will face the winner of the Penn State/Michigan State match. Match times will be announced early this week.

Today's Illinois results


Singles
1  #52 Brian Wilson (ILL) def. #26 Phil Metz (OSU)               6-0, 6-2
2  #12 Amer Delic (ILL) def. #33 Jeremy Wurtzman (OSU)           4-6, 6-2, 6-4
3  #67 Phil Stolt (ILL) def. #114 Adrian Bohane (OSU)            6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-0
4  Mike Kosta (ILL) def. Conor Casey (OSU)                       6-2, 6-1
5  # 87 Michael Calkins (ILL) def. Paul Warkentin (OSU)          6-3, 6-0
6  Nathan Zeder (ILL) def. Vince Ng (OSU)                        6-4, 6-4


Doubles
1  Adrian Bohane/Paul Warkentin (OSU) def. #4 Amer Delic/Michael Calkins (ILL)  8-4
2  Phil Stolt/Brian Wilson (ILL) def. Conor Casey/Jeremy Wurtzman (OSU)         8-3
3  Mike Kosta/Nathan Zeder (ILL) def. Phil Metz/Brenton Contini (OSU)           8-3