Oct. 26, 2003

Michael Calkins, Ryler DeHeart, Chris Martin, and Pramod Dabir all competed in both singles and doubles action today at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regional in East Lansing, Mich. By the end of the day all four had won their two singles matches and advanced to tomorrow's quarterfinal round. The tandem of Calkins and Martin also punched their ticket to the doubles quarterfinals, which also take place tomorrow.

One of the many bright spots for the Illini this tournament has been the sophomore, DeHeart. After an early season struggle, DeHeart has bounced back the last two tournaments and has not lost a single set this weekend. DeHeart was challenged by Eric Simonton of Michigan State in the Round of 32 and by Paul Rose of Purdue in the ensuing round; he won, 6-2, 6-1 and 6-4, 6-1, in those two matches, respectively. Tomorrow will be his biggest challenge as he faces the top-seed, Jeremy Wurtzman from Ohio State, who defeated Illini Evan Zeder, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of competition yesterday.

"Ryler continues to play better and better as the year goes on," said Associate Head Coach Bruce Berque. "At the beginning of the year he was getting frustrated, but I think his confidence has improved in these last two tournaments. Tomorrow's match against Wurtzman will be a good measuring stick for him. If he plays like he has the last two days, I think he has a great chance of winning."

Like DeHeart, Dabir (the only unseeded player for the Illini) has also rolled through his first three rounds. Today in the Round of 16 he faced the No. 4 seed, Luis Haddock from Notre Dame and won, 6-4, 7-5. Earlier in the day Dabir defeated Juan Barriga from Northern Illinois, 7-5, 6-2. He will face ninth-seeded Ravi Pathanjali of Western Michigan tomorrow in his first match of the day. Calkins defeated Barry King of Notre Dame, 6-2, 6-3 to start out the day. In his second match against 10th-seeded Tom Hanus of Northwestern, Calkins was in unfamiliar waters when he was forced to play from behind. After losing the first set 6-4, he rallied back to win 7-6 (4) in the second; Calkins clinched the victory with a 6-4 win in the third set.

Martin, the No. 12 seed, kept Illinois' foursome intact. He gave the Orange and Blue the opportunity to vie tomorrow for all four semifinals spots by defeating No. 7 seed Andrew Formanczyk of the host Spartans, 6-2, 7-6 (2) in the Round of 16. Earlier in the day, in the previous round, Martin beat Matt Baccarani of Ball State, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3. Martin will face Big Ten foe Dennis Mertens of Ohio State tomorrow in the quarterfinals.

"As a group I think we did a fantastic job," continued Berque. "I was very pleased with the fact that our four singles players went a combined 8-0 today to reach the quarterfinals. We had some close matches, but were able to win against better competition today."

The two doubles teams of Calkins and Martin and Dabir and DeHeart were also on stage today when they competed in the Round of 16. Despite the fact that each of them had played played two singles matches earlier, Martin and Calkins were able to come out on top in doubles as well, beating Anthony Jackson and Michael Rubin of Michigan, 8-3. Calkins and Martin will take their lofty No. 3 seed into the quarterfinals tomorrow when they will face the seventh-seeded Troy Havens and Paul Rose of Purdue.

"I was very impressed with how Michael and Chris came out and controlled the match after already competing in two singles matches early," said Berque.

The lone setback for the Illini today came in doubles action when the team of Dabir and DeHeart came up short in a grueling battle that ended in a tiebreaker. Luis Haddock and Ryan Keckley of Notre Dame eliminated the UI sophomores, 9-8 (2).

SUNDAY'S ILLINOIS RESULTS:
(for complete bracket results visit msuspartans.ocsn.com/sports/m-tennis)

Singles:

Round of 32:
#2 Michael Calkins (ILL) def. Barry King (ND)            6-2, 6-3
#8 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. Eric Simonton (MSU)          6-2, 6-1
#12 Chris Martin (ILL) def. Matt Baccarani (BSU)         6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3
Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Juan Barriga (NIU)               7-5, 6-2

Round of 16
#2 Michael Calkins (ILL) def. #10 Tom Hanus (NU)         4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4
#8 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. Paul Rose (Purdue)           6-4, 6-1
#12 Chris Martin (ILL) def. #7 Andrew Formanczyk (MSU)   6-2, 7-6 (2)
Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. #4 Luis Haddock (ND)             6-4, 7-5


Doubles:

Round of 16:
#3 Michael Calkins/Chris Martin (ILL) def. #9 Anthony Jackson/Michael Rubin (MICH)    8-3
#9 Luis Haddock/Ryan Keckley (ND) def. #8 Pramod Dabir/Ryler DeHeart (ILL)            9-8 (2)

Singles: #2 seed Michael Calkins (ILL) vs. #14 seed Avery Tice (Minnesota), 9 AM #8 seed Ryler DeHeart (ILL) vs. #1 seed Jeremy Wurtzman (Ohio State), 9 AM #12 seed Chris Martin (ILL) vs. Dennis Mertens (Ohio State), 9 AM Pramod Dabir (ILL) vs. #9 seed Ravi Pathanjali (Western Michigan), 9 AM

Doubles: #3 seed Michael Calkins/Chris Martin (ILL) vs. #7 seed Troy Havens/Paul Rose (Purdue), TBA