May 5, 2005

Champaign, Ill. - The Illini received another invitation to the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, this time for the singles and doubles championship. Illinois junior Ryler DeHeart, once the top-ranked singles player in the country, received the No. 7 seed for the men's singles championship. Sophomore GD Jones and freshman Kevin Anderson, who were ranked as high as No. 14 and 15 respectively, also made the singles field of 64. DeHeart and Jones will also team up in the doubles championship as they made the cut out of the Midwest Region. The pair has been ranked as high as No. 4 this season following a terrific fall season that saw them win the ITA Midwest Regional championship. DeHeart received All-America honors for the first time in his career, as he was one of the top-16 seeds.

To earn All-America status in singles an athlete needs to earn a top-16 seed, reach the Round of 16 in the singles tournament, or finish in the top-20 in the singles rankings. In doubles, the criteria is obtaining a top-8 seed, reaching the doubles quarterfinals, or finishing among the top-10 in the doubles rankings.

Earlier this fall, DeHeart became only the second unseeded player in the last 10 years of the 26-year history of the ITA National Indoor Championships to win the singles title. He also won the ITA Midwest Regional Singles Championship just to qualify for the National Indoor. Not only was the Big Ten Athlete of the Year's fall record outstanding (18-1), but all season the junior has played terrific tennis as he currently stands 39-9, going 12-1 in the Big Ten. His 39 wins are one shy of the school's all-time single season mark of 40, held by Gavin Sontag,

Jones has been a rock all season for the Illini at the No. 1 and 2 spot. The native of New Zealand is a sparkling 15-2 this spring at the top spots and has defeated five ranked opponents in those matches. The unanimous All-Big Ten selection, who is 26-6 overall in singles, has also flourished with his partner DeHeart in doubles as they make their NCAA debut. The duo went 14-8 this season and prevailed six times over ranked opponents, including three in the top-five. Most of their success this season came in the fall, but have shown flashes this spring that they can beat anyone. In March they defeated Stanford's top pair, Sam Warburg and KC Corkery, who are the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

Anderson has been brilliant since his arrival to the Illinois. Anderson has picked up numerous honors since joining the Illini, he's been named Big Ten Player of the Week and recently was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Playing four positions this spring has allowed the freshman to become a dangerous weapon for the Orange and Blue. The South African started the season 13-0 and defeated six ranked opponents during the stretch.