Jan. 29, 2003
The second-ranked Illini men's tennis team took its show on the road for the first time in the dual-match season and returned with its second 6-1 victory in as many outings, this one at No. 34 Notre Dame.
"We've traditionally had very tight matches with Notre Dame (0-3)," said Illinois Head Coach Craig Tiley, "but I don't think they're as strong this year as they have been in the past. But they played well against us. They came out hungry and fired-up to play us."
That was evident at the beginning of doubles play. Brent D'Amico and Matthew Scott stormed out to a 6-1 lead over Illinois' Brian Wilson and Rajeev Ram, but the junior-freshman duo reeled off wins in seven consecutive games to take the No. 1 match, 8-6. At No. 2, it took a 7-4 victory in the tiebreaker for second-ranked Amer Delic and Michael Calkins to get past Luis Haddock and Ben Hatten, 9-8. Ryler DeHeart and Phil Stolt made short work of Jake Cram and Paul McNaughton in the No. 3 match, prevailing, 8-2.
Tiley continued to tinker with his singles lineups as he promised to do early in the season.. Freshman Rajeev Ram, in just his second collegiate match, drew the No. 1 assignment and responded brilliantly, defeating the No. 72 Haddock, 6-4, 6-2. Second-ranked Amer Delic, back from a one-game suspension for breaking team rules, got past Scott ranked No. 119, 6-4, 7-6 (3) in the No. 2 match. The bottom of the lineup was productive as well. Calkins, ranked No. 42, picked up a victory at No. 4, topping Patrick Buchanan, 6-3, 6-4; Chris Martin won the only three-set match of the day, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 over Nicolas Lopez-Acevedo; and Pramod Dabir was a 6-4, 6-2 victor over Jimmy Bass in the No. 6 match. The 84th- ranked DeHeart sustained the only loss for the Illini-he fell to D'Amico, 7-5, 7-5.
"Ryler wasn't as sharp today as he normally is," said Tiley. "Rajeev did a good job, and it was good to have Michael healthy and back on the court and also to have Amer back. He had a close match, but he played well. This was a good match for us to have this week. We have a very good Florida team coming in Saturday night, and we have to be ready at every position."
The victory was the eighth for Illinois in the two teams' last nine meetings. It avenged the only home loss last year for the Orange and Blue. The Illini have closed the gap in the all-time series with the Fighting Irish to 19-14.
The Fighting Illini (2-0) return home to prepare for Saturday evening's (6 p.m.) showdown with fifth-ranked Florida at the Atkins Tennis Center.
No. 2 ILLINOIS 6 at No. 34 Notre Dame 1
SINGLES:
1. Rajeev Ram (ILL) def. No. 72 Luis Haddock (ND) 6-4, 6-2
2. No 2. Amer Delic (ILL) def. No. 119 Matthew Scott (ND) 6-4, 7-6 (3)
3. Brent D'Amicao (ND) def. No. 84 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) 7-5, 7-5
4. No. 42 Michael Calkins (ILL) def. Patrick Buchanan (ND) 6-3, 6-4
5. Chris Martin (ILL) def. Nicolas Lopez-Acevedo (ND) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
6. Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Jimm Bass (ND) 6-4, 6-2
DOUBLES:
1. Brian Wilson/Rajeev Ram (ILL) def. Brent D'Amico/Matthew Scott (ND) 8-6
2. No. 2 Michael Calkins/Amer Delic (ILL) def. Luis Haddock/Ben Hatten (ND) 9-8 (7-4)
3. Phil Stolt/Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. Jake Cram/Paul McNaughton (ND) 8-2
