March 20, 2004

The Illini men's tennis team passed its first outdoor test of the season, albeit not in flying colors, as it defeated Florida State, 5-2 before a boisterous crowd of 500 in Tallahassee, Fla., this afternoon. The victory boosted No. 1 Illinois' season record to 15-0; the Fighting Illini moved their NCAA record consecutive-dual-match winning streak to 47, dating to the beginning of last season.

Today's triumph did not come easily.

The Orange and Blue did manage to sweep the doubles matches and take an early 1-0 lead. In the No. 3 match, Ryler DeHeart and Pramod Dabir got the Illini started on a positive note with an 8-1 thumping of Jarrod Owen and Joe Bassett. No. 3 Phil Stolt and Brian Wilson clinched the doubles point when they earned an 8-4 win in the match at No. 1 over Jeff Groslimond and Chris Westerhof. In the No. 2 match, 33rd-ranked Chris Martin and Michael Calkins nipped Matt Cloer and Jonathas Sucupira, 9-8 (3).

The Seminoles (9-6) got on the board at the beginning of singles play when Sucupira upset 29th-ranked Phil Stolt at the No. 2 spot, 1-6, 6-0, 6-2. The Fighting Illini regained the lead, 2-1, when No. 6 player GD Jones dispatched Joao Paolo Bounassar, 6-2, 6-4. Florida State responded to tie the match once again when Westerhof snapped 87th-ranked DeHeart's 12-match winning streak, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Illinois showed its depth by winning the last three singles matches. Fourth-ranked Brian Wilson gave the Illini the lead for good by beating Cloer, who is ranked 20th in the nation, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-2. The win was Wilson's 10th in a row. Chris Martin, just as he did in last year's NCAA title match, clinched the victory for the Fighting Illini; he beat Chip Webb in the No. 5 contest, 7-6 (2), 6-3. It was Martin's ninth consecutive win. Calkins finished off the Seminoles with a win by the slimmest of margins, 6-2, 5-7, (10-9), over Groslimond. The victory was his 11th in his last 12 matches.

"Florida State played great against us," said UI Head Coach Craig Tiley. "They played at a very high level; they're certainly better than their (No. 41) ranking might indicate.

"It was touch and go for us for awhile," he continued. "There was a very hostile crowd, and our guys started out tentative in singles. We're very happy to come out with a win."

The other factor that presented a challenge was the fact that this was Illinois' first outdoor match of the season, while FSU has been training and playing outdoors the vast majority of its season to date.

"It's definitely an adjustment," said Tiley. I'm not glad that we didn't play especially well, but I'm very glad that we had a stern test. It will help prepare us for some tough matches the remainder of the season and the post-season."

The value of that preparation may become very apparent very soon. The Fighting Illini play at No. 5 Florida in Gainesville on Tuesday evening as their spring break-swing through the Sunshine State continues.

No. 1 Illinois 5 at Florida State 2

Singles:
1. #4 Brian Wilson (ILL) def. #20 Mat Cloer (FSU)       6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-2
2. Jonathas Sucupira (FSU) def. #29 Phil Stolt (ILL)    1-6, 6-0, 6-2
3. Chris Westerhof (FSU) def. #87 Ryler DeHeart (ILL)   6-3, 4-6, 6-4
4. Michael Calkins (ILL) def. Jeff Groslimond (FSU)     6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (9)
5. #67 Chris Martin (ILL) def. Chip Webb (FSU)          7-6 (2), 6-3
6. GD Jones (ILL) def. Joao Paolo Bounassar (FSU)       6-2, 6-4

Doubles:
1. #3 Phil Stolt/Brian Wilson (ILL) def. Jeff Groslimond/Chris Westerhof (FSU)      8-4
2. #33 Chris Martin/Michael Calkins (ILL) def. Mat Cloer/Jonathas Sucupira (FSU)    9-8 (3)
3. Ryler DeHeart/Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Jarrod Owen/Joe Bassett (FSU)              8-1