April 26, 2002

The Fighting Illini, the No. 1 seed in the 2002 Big Ten Men's Tennis Tournament, defeated eighth-seeded Penn State, 4-0, in quarterfinal play this morning at the Stickney Tennis Center on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus.

Illinois, ranked No. 3 nationally, won the doubles points with victories at the Nos. 1 and 3 positions. Sixth-ranked Amer Delic and Michael Calkins defeated PSU's Jamie Gresh and Clint Keithly, 8-5, at the No. 1 spot. UI's Mike Kosta and Jamal Parker beat Roddy Cantey and Todd Stecko, 8-2, at the No. 2 position.

The Orange and Blue then won at the Nos. 2, 5, and 6 positions in singles to win the match, 4-0. No. 39 Brian Wilson defeated Penn State's Todd Stecko, 6-0, 6-4, at the No. 2 singles spot. Senior Nathan Zeder downed Roddy Cantey, 6-0, 6-3 at the No. 5 position and freshman Chris Martin downed PSU's Clint Keithly, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 6.

"I was very pleased with the play of Jamal Parker today," said UI Head Coach Craig Tiley. He and Mike Kosta played a good doubles match. We pulled Phil Stolt out of singles, and moved Chris Martin into the lineup. Chris did a great job today. Some of our other players didn't perform as well as they usually do, but we did what we had to do to advance."

The Illini (21-4, 11-0) move on to face the winner of this afternoon's match between Northwestern (No. 4 seed) and Purdue (5). The semifinal match will begin 10 a.m. (EDT) Saturday, weather permitting. Illinois will play at noon if the match is forced indoors. Penn State bows out with a 12-13 overall mark and a 4-8 Big Ten slate.

"We need to play better tomorrow," said Tiley. "Whether we face Purdue or Northwestern, it will be a tougher match than when we faced them during the regular season."

Today's Illinois Results (Big Ten Quarterfinal):
No. 3 (1 seed) ILLINOIS 4, No. 66 (8 seed) Penn State 0

Singles

1. No. 13 Amer Delic (ILL) vs. No. 83 Jamie Gresh (PSU)      Abandoned
2. Brian Wilson (ILL) def. Todd Stecko (PSU)                 6-0, 6-4
3. Mike Kosta (ILL) vs. Brad Nudell (PSU)                    Abandoned
4. Michael Calkins (ILL) vs. Matt Frakes (PSU)               Abandoned
5. Nathan Zeder (ILL) def. Roddy Cantey (PSU)                6-0, 6-3
6. Chris Martin (ILL) def. Clint Keithly (PSU)               6-4, 6-1

Doubles
1. No. 6 Amer Delic/Michael Calkins (UI) def. Jamie Gresh/Clint Keithly (PSU)       8-5
2. Phil Stolt/Brian Wilson (UI) vs. Brad Nudell/Matt Frakes (PSU)                   Abandoned
3. Mike Kosta/Jamal Parker (UI) def. Roddy Cantey/Todd Stecko (PSU)                 8-2