University of Illinois
Butler (NCAA Regional)
No. 3 Illinois Advances To Second Round of NCAA Tournament
May 11, 2002 | Men's Tennis
May 11, 2002
The third-ranked Illini tennis team took care of business this morning in its first-round NCAA Tournament match. The hosts blanked Butler, 4-0, inside the UI Atkins Tennis Center on a very rainy morning in Champaign-Urbana.
Illinois (24-4) made short work of the Bulldogs, who finish the season with an 18-11 mark. Coach Craig Tiley's troops picked up the doubles point with an 8-3 victory at No. 2 by Mike Kosta and Nathan Zeder, and a lopsided 8-1 win at No. 3 by Michael Calkins and Jamal Parker. Tiley gave Amer Delic a rest during the doubles competition, so his usual partner, Calkins moved down the lineup and played with Parker at No. 3. Kosta and Zeder moved up from their regular spot to No. 3, while Phil Stolt and Brian Wilson played up a notch as well. They led their match, 5-4, when it was suspended at the time the Illini were awarded the doubles point.
Tiley also made a switch on the singles side, resting Wilson. Stolt took his place at No. 2, Kosta moved up one place to No. 3, as did Calkins (to No. 4) and Zeder (to No. 5). Freshman Chris Martin stepped in to play the No. 6 match.
The Illini showed no difficulty with the different lineup this morning. While the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 contests all produced 7-6 Illini wins with tiebreakers in their first sets, it was the bottom of the lineup that sealed the victory. Delic's, Stolt's and Kosta's matches were all suspended after Calkins (6-0, 6-1), Martin (6-1, 6-2) and Zeder (6-1, 6-4) won handily.
"We juggled the lineup a little bit today to keep everyone sharp and to give Martin and Parker a chance to play," said Tiley. "It was good to get Jamal some time on the court and to give Chris his first chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament.
"With the changes, we got off to a little bit of a slow start in doubles, but later we came on strong. It was a case, I think, of us having a little too much depth and experience for Butler," said Tiley.
"Butler did a great job today," said Kosta. "They played hard and brought it at us, which I liked."
The Illini will face Indiana State (4-0 winner Saturday afternoon in the other first-round match) Sunday at noon for the right to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The last four rounds take place starting next weekend at Texas A&M University in College Station, but Kosta isn't looking ahead.
"Craig reminds us that last year we were in this same position," said Kosta. "We had beaten Murray State, which was not as good as Butler, 4-0, then Mississippi State beat us."
Today's Results:
No. 3 Illinois 4, Butler 0
DOUBLES: 1. Brian Wilson/Phil Stolt (ILL) led Brandon Currie/Jimmy Borendame (BUT) 5-4 (sus.) 2. Mike Kosta/Nathan Zeder (ILL) def. Josh Rey/Peter Voelz (BUT) 8-3 3. Jamal Parker/Michael Calkins (ILL) def. Abel Contreras/Aubrey Annan (BUT) 8-1SINGLES: 1. No. 12 Amer Delic (ILL) led Brandon Currie (BUT) 7-6 (3), 4-2 (sus.) 2. No. 67 Phil Stolt (ILL) def. Jimmy Borendame (BUT) 7-6 (6), 2-2 (sus.) 3. Mike Kosta (ILL) led Josh Rey (BUT) 7-6 (1), 3-2 (sus.) 4. No. 121 Michael Calkins (ILL) def. Alex Kurz (BUT) 6-0, 6-1 5. Nathan Zeder (ILL) def. Peter Voelz (BUT) 6-1, 6-4 6. Chris Martin (ILL) def. Abel Contreras (BUT) 6-1, 6-2
No. 38 Indiana State 4, No. 45 Northwestern 0
DOUBLES: 1 Stefan Hirn/David O'Connell (ISU) 2 Ryan Edelfsen/Russell Bennett (NU) 82 Henry Choi/Ralibor Mihajlovic (ISU) 8 Joost Hol/Jackie Jenkins (NU) 6
3 Verdan Vidovic/Lovre Brajkovic (ISU) 8 Chuck Perrin/Tom Hanus (NU) 6
SINGLES:1 Verdan Vidovic (ISU) 6 6 Tom Hanus (NU) 0 4
2 Stefan Hirn (ISU) 6 6 Ryan Edlefsen (NU) 2 3
3 Lovre Brajkovic (ISU) 6 3 Jamie Sahara (NU) 4 4 (sus.)
4 Henry Choi (ISU) 6 5 Jackie Jenkins (NU) 3 3 (sus.)
5 David O'Connell (ISU) 6 6 Josh Axler (NU) 1 4
6 Dalibor Mihajlovic (ISU) 4 5 Chuck Perrin (NU) 6 4 (sus.)
