Illini Duo Advance To Semifinal At All-American

Men's Tennis October 9, 2004

Illini Duo Advance To Semifinal At All-American

Oct. 8, 2004

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Illinois' duo of Ryler DeHeart and GD Jones won two matches and advanced to the semifinals in doubles today at the Icy Hot/ITA All-American Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. They later learned the second win earned them a bid to the ITA National Indoor Championships in November. Jones also advanced in the consolation singles earlier in the day. Other members that were not in action at the ITA's this week started competition today in the Louisville Fall Invitational. Senior Evan Zeder and two freshmen Brandon Davis and Andrew Eklov won a combined five matches out of six in the opening matches today.

At the ITA All-American, the Illini doubles combo of DeHeart/Jones picked up where they left off last night, battling to a 9-7 victory over Nate Grover and Izak Van Der Merwe of Old Dominion. DeHeart/Jones then faced John Isner and Antonio Ruiz of Georgia who handly defeated DeHeart/Jones 8-2 weeks ago at the Napa Valley Invitational. However, today was a different story as DeHeart and Jones gave put it all together and blitzed the Isner/Ruiz pair from Georgia 8-4.

"In the second match tonight, they came out extremely focused and were very clear in what they were trying to establish," Dancer said of the Illini duo who defeated the talented Georgia pair. "I thought they really stuck to their goals that they were trying to achieve and came away dominating a good team in Isner and Ruiz."

In the morning, No. 111 Jones grabbed a win in the singles consolation bracket against Adrians Zguns of Arkansas 1-6, 7-5, 6-2. Jones now faces Virginia's Rylan Rizza in the quarterfinal tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. CST.

At the Louisville Fall Invitational, Zeder and Eklov won a pair of matches, while Davis split two. Zeder defeated Gustavo Anzola of Tennesse-Martin 6-4, 6-2 in his first match and then took out Joe Epkey of Southern Indiana 6-2, 6-4. Eklov faced Iowa Hawkeye Aaron Schaechterle in the first match of the day winning 6-3, 6-2. In his second match he defeated Chicago State's Prakoso Imanuel 6-3, 6-4. Davis won his first match against Rob Altenau of Dayton in three sets 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, but fell short in the second round against Sebastian Aspillaga from IU-Southeast in three sets as well 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

"It was a good day, everyone I feel got good practice in this week and was very prepared coming down here," Illini head coach Tiley said. "We really wanted these three to get as many matches in as they could and after today we are on track for that due to their play today."

Zeder and Eklov will continue play tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m. CST.

For complete bracket results from the ITA All-American Tournament please visit www.itatennis.com.

For results from the Louisville Invitational please visit www.uoflsports.com.

ITA Results
Consolation Singles:
No. 111 GD Jones (ILL) def. Adrians Zguns (Arkansas); 1-6, 7-5, 6-2

Doubles:
No. 17 DeHeart/Jones def. Nate Grover/Izak Van Der Merwe (Old Dominion); 9-7
No. 17 DeHeart/Jones def. John Isner/Antonio Ruiz (Georgia); 8-4

Louisville Invitational Results
Singles:
Brandon Davis (ILL) def. Rob Altenau (Dayton); 6-7, 7-5, 6-4
Sebastian Aspillaga (IU-Southeast) def. Brandon Davis (ILL); 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Andrew Eklov (ILL) def. Aaron Schaechterle (Iowa); 6-3, 6-4
Andrew Eklov (ILL) def. Prakoso Imanuel (Chicago State); 6-3, 6-4
Evan Zeder (ILL) def. Gustavo Anzola (Tennesse-Martin); 6-4, 6-2
Evan Zeder (ILL) def. Joe Epkey (Southern Indiana); 6-2, 6-4