March 13, 2004

The Fighting Illini men's tennis team made its mark in history tonight by setting the new NCAA winning streak record of 46 matches, behind a 6-1 triumph over Big-Ten foe No. 36 Minnesota (4-5) at Minnesota's Baseline Tennis Center. Stanford had held the mark since 1999 when it won 45 matches in a row (Illinois stopped the streak by beating the Cardinal at the National Indoor Championships). The Illinois record is the longest since the NCAA introduced a team tournament to the championship format in 1977 (Miami's [Fla.] 137 matches in a row from 1957-64 is the all-time mark). The win tonight was the 14th in a row over the Golden Gophers.

"It was great to get the record, but we were also just happy to beat a good team like Minnesota on their home court," said Head Coach Craig Tiley.

Illinois started the record-setting night off on the right foot winning all three doubles matches to secure an early 1-0 advantage. With the doubles win tonight the Illini have won the point in their last six matches. Illini rookie GD Jones and sophomore Ryler DeHeart continued their unbeaten (5-0) dual-match season as a doubles tandem, by defeating Andres Osorio and Chris Wettengel, 8-5 at No. 3. With only two blemishes on their record (losses to only the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams in the country), the third-ranked duo of Phil Stolt and Brian Wilson tacked on their eighth win of the season with a victory over (No. 46) Avery Ticer and Clay Estes, 9-7 at No. 1. In the duo's eight wins, they have beaten seven ranked opponents. At No. 2, the 33rd-ranked pair of Michael Calkins and Chris Martin (9-3) beat Aleksey Zharinov and Sion Wilkins, to improve to 9-3 in the spring and notch their fifth in a row.

In singles play, Wilson, ranked third nationally, extended his winning streak to nine matches with a straight set, 6-3, 6-0 victory over No. 66 Zharinov, at No. 1. Wilson's only defeat came in his first singles match of the season to No. 17 Lester Cook in a two set-thriller 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8). Stolt defeated No. 89 Wettengel, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 3 to improve to 7-2 in dual match play.

Last week's Big-Ten Player of the Week (No. 87) DeHeart (12-0) remained perfect in the spring after a 6-1, 6-4 win over Osorio, at No. 4. DeHeart's 12 wins are the most for the Illini in the dual-match season, and represent the longest winning streak for an Illinois individual player this year. Not far behind DeHeart in wins, No. 67 Martin earned his 11th this spring after a 7-6, 6-1 triumph over Dusan Tabak at No. 5. At No. 6 Pramod Dabir improved his dual-match season record to 7-1 behind a 7-6, 6-2 win over Brian Lipinski. This season the Illini are a combined 33-4 at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 in singles. Calkins suffered his first loss in the spring season, when he was defeated by Ticer in a three-set 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 match, at No. 2. Before tonight Calkins' last lost came last Nov. 7 to Kentucky's (No. 9), Jesse Witten 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

"We didn't play especially well tonight," said Tiley. "We were not aggressive enough. Our players were tentative in doubles. It seemed that the guys were tight--maybe because they wanted to break the record so much."

"Now we move into our outdoor season," he continued. "It's always a challenge, because there is an adjustment, and we're going to be playing some good teams in Florida during spring break."

The Illini will look to add to their record next Saturday when they travel to No. 45 Florida State. During that week the Illini will also face No. 9 Florida and No. 32 Miami during the University of Illinois' spring break session.

No. 1 Illinois 6, at No. 36 Minnesota 1

Singles:
1. #3 Brian Wilson (ILL) def. #66 Aleksey Zharinov (MN)   6-3, 6-0
2. Avery Ticer (MN) def. Michael Calkins (ILL)            4-6, 6-1, 6-4
3. #29 Phil Stolt (ILL) def. #89 Chris Wettengel (MN)     6-3, 6-3
4. #87 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. Andres Osorio (MN)        6-1, 6-4
5. #67 Chris Martin (ILL) def. Dusan Tabak (MN)           7-6, 6-1
6. Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Brian Lipinski (MN)            7-6, 6-2

Doubles:
1. #3 Brian Wilson/Phil Stolt (ILL) def. Avery Ticer/Clay Estes (MN)            9-7
2. Michael Calkins/Chris Martin (ILL) def. Aleksey Zharinov/Sion Wilkins (MN)   8-5
3. Ryler DeHeart/G.D. Jones (ILL) def. Andres Osorio/Chris Wettengel (MN)       8-5