Feb. 7, 2004

For the third consecutive year, the top-ranked Fighting Illini will be competing in the ITA National Team Indoor final (USTA/ITA). In this, their eighth appearance at the event, the Illini improved to a remarkable 5-0 in semifinal action, after a victory today over No. 5 Stanford 4-2. With a victory tomorrow the Illini would be the fifth team in the USTA/ITA history to repeat as champs, with the last coming in 1997 when UCLA accomplished the feat. Dating back to the beginning of the USTA/ITA tournament in 1973, the winner of this event has gone on to win the NCAA Championships in May nine times, including last years Illini team.

"We're excited, we've had a lot of pressure on us to hold on to our No. 1 seed," said Head Coach Craig Tiley. "We've played three tough matches, with the last two being even tougher and we've had to play our best tennis to win those matches."

The Orange and Blue began the day on the right foot, when they secured the doubles point with wins in the first two doubles matches finished. At No. 1, the pair of Brian Wilson and Phil Stolt handled No. 10 KC Corkery and James Pade 8-5. The duo of Wilson and Stolt have been challenged in the early season having already faced four top-ten doubles teams (No. 1, No. 2, No. 7, No. 10) in only six matches. In those matches the pair has two wins and one unfinished match. The tandem of Ryler DeHeart and Pramod Dabir snatched the doubles point and 1-0 lead for the Illini when they beat Phil Sheng and Joe Kao, 8-5.

One of Illinois' strongest links thus far in the USTA/ITA has been sophomore DeHeart (No. 65) who has won all three of his singles matches. Today at No. 5 he defeated Stanford's Carter Morris 6-1, 6-2. Playing at No. 1 all week, Wilson has yet to lose as well (2-0), including a victory over No. 43 Corkery 6-3, 7-5 today. The other Illini single's victory on the afternoon came from No. 47 Chris Martin at No. 4, where he toppled No. 89 Pade, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

During tournament play, doubles play is stopped once the winner of the point is determined. Singles play is halted after the winner of the match has been determined.

"I'm very proud of these guys; their effort, the way they've carried themselves and the way they've competed this week," said Tiley.

Tomorrow the Illini will face either No. 6 UCLA or No. 7 Mississippi in the National Team Indoor final at 2 p.m. (CT). In either case, Illinois' opponent will bring plenty of USTA/ITA experience with UCLA having competed in 24 tournaments, and Mississippi appearing 12 times. If the Fighting Illini face Mississippi it would be the fifth time they have seen each other at the event, with Illinois taking three of the previous four matches. Illinois last faced UCLA in the event in the 1999 final, where UCLA won 4-1.

"Both of these teams are very good, so we're expecting another tough match," continued Tiley. "Tomorrow, we're going to go out, have some fun and do our best to win another national title."

For complete bracket information on the USTA/ITA visit www.itatennis.com or www.gohuskies.com.

Former Illini Amer Delic also made news today by advancing to the final at the USTA Men's Challenger of Dallas. Delic defeated Robert Kendrick (USA) 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3 in the semifinal round. He will face Sebastien de Chaunac (Fra) for the title. Another former Illini Rajeev Ram also competed in the same event but fell short in the semifinals of doubles action. Ram teamed with Brian Baker but they were defeated 7-6 (4), 6-3.

#1 Illinois 4, #5 Stanford 2

Singles:
1. Brian Wilson (ILL) def. No. 43 KC Corkery (Stan)                        6-3, 7-5
2. No. 71 Sam Warburg (Stan) def. Phil Stolt (ILL)                         6-4, 6-0
3. No. 39 Michael Calkins (ILL) vs. Phil Sheng (Stan)                      DNF
4. No. 47 Chris Martin (ILL) def. No. 89 James Pade (Stan)                 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
5. No. 65 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. Carter Morris (Stan)                    6-1, 6-2
6. James Wan (Stan) def. No. 74 Pramod Dabir (ILL)                         6-4, 6-1

Doubles:
1. Brian Wilson/Phil Stolt (ILL) def. No. 10 KC Corkery/James Pade (Stan)                     8-5
2. No. 14 Michael Calkins/Chris Martin (ILL) vs. Sam Warburg/Carter Morris (Stan)             DNF
3. Ryler DeHeart/Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Phil Sheng/Joe Kao (Stan)                            8-5