Feb. 26, 2005

University Park, Pa. -The Fighting Illini responded like the No. 3 team in the country on Saturday as they got back into the win column with a 6-1 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Illini picked up their 40th straight Big Ten victory with the win and improve to 8-1 on the season.

"It was a difficult trip for us; it is a far place to go for one match," said Illinois Head Coach Craig Tiley. "We were still rebounding from a disappointing loss last week (No. 1 Baylor at National Team Indoor Championships), but we were able to pull it out against a much improved Penn State team. There is no easy win and we had to work hard to get it, but we did what we had to do."

The Illini were successful early as they captured the doubles point, winning two of the three matches. Illinois' first win came at No. 2 from freshmen Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe who beat Bradley Hunter and Ryan Berger, 8-4. Juniors Ryler DeHeart and Pramod Dabir clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 win at No. 1 over Malcolm Scatliffe and Mark Barry. Monte Tucker and Evan Zeder fell short in completing the sweep, as Chris Serman and Michael James won 8-4 at No. 3.

After the intermission, Illinois asserted its singles dominance. Playing his first match of his career as the No. 1 player in the country, DeHeart did not disappoint as he beat Barry of Penn State in three sets 7-5, 4-6, 7-6. Anderson continued his strong day by winning in straight sets 7-6, 6-3 against Scatliffe. Tucker also was a straight set winner this afternoon posting a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Berger. Dabir, in his first singles match since returning from an ankle injury, and Gonzales, both sealed up singles wins as well, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 and 6-4, 6-4 respectively.

The Orange and Blue will stay in conference and on the road next week, as they face off against Purdue on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and then Indiana at noon on Saturday.

Illinois 6, Penn State 1 Results

Singles
1. No. 1 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. Mark Barry (PSU)             7-5, 4-6, 7-6
2. No. 15 Kevin Anderson (ILL) def. Malcolm Scatliffe (PSU)    7-6, 6-3
3. No. 78 Monte Tucker (ILL) def. Ryan Berg (PSU)              6-4, 6-3
4. Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Bradley Hunter (PSU)                3-6, 6-2, 6-4
5. Michael James (PSU) def. Ryan Rowe (ILL)                    4-6, 6-3, 10-8
6. Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. James Dwyer (PSU)                 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
1. DeHeart/Dabir (ILL) def. Scatliffe/Barry (PSU)   8-6
2. Anderson/Rowe (ILL) def. Hunter/Berger (PSU)     8-4
3. James/Sherman (PSU) def. Tucker /Zeder (ILL)     8-4