GD Jones Named Big Ten Player of the Week
March 31, 2005 | Men's Tennis
March 31, 2005
Champaign, Ill. - Sophomore GD Jones became the second Fighting Illini tennis player to earn Athlete of the Week honors this year, after the sophomore recorded a pair of wins last week against ranked opponents. The victories came against some elite competition as the Illini were competing out in California against the likes of No. 9 USC and No. 13 Pepperdine. The Illini split the two contests before they finished the trip defeating No. 10 Stanford to move to 13-2 overall.
On Wednesday against the Trojans, Jones faced the first of his three ranked opponents on the trip. Jones helped the Illini secure a 4-3 victory in Los Angeles with his victory over USC's 62nd -ranked Drew Hoskins 6-2, 6-2, moving the New Zealander to 17-5 overall. Against the Waves on Friday, Jones played the No. 1 position for only the second time this season, but made the most of the opportunity as he battled and won in a three set match against No. 81 Scott Doerner 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. The win would mark Jones sixth straight, his longest streak of the season.
Partnered with Ryler DeHeart as the ninth-best doubles tandem in the country, the duo defeated the nation's No. 16 doubles pair from Pepperdine in Friday's match as well. Jones earns his first career weekly honor and is the second Illinois player to be honored this season as Kevin Anderson won on February 10.
Jones and his fellow Fighting Illini teammates will compete against No. 28 Ohio State on Sunday, April 3rd at Atkins Tennis Center, beginning at noon. There will be a free barbecue for Illinois tennis fans on Sunday, as well as a free kids clinic for kids 8th grade and under following the match. An autograph session will also be held following the match.
