Oct. 24, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Sophomore Marc Spicijaric's deep run at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships came to an end on Monday, as the Illini fell to No. 8-seeded Devin Mullings of Ohio State 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 in the quarterfinals at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis. Spicijaric's performance earned him consideration for the ITA National Indoor Championships in Columbus, Ohio in November as an at-large bid, with selections to be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 24, by 5 p.m.

"I am very proud of the way Marc played this weekend," head coach Brad Dancer said. "In practice, we have been working on having him use his athleticism to win points and dictate play. Marc did a great job of that this weekend. He continues to put himself in situations where he can win matches. He got ahead in his match against Mullings, but let a few chances slip away from him. Overall, he did a great job."

Spicijaric ended the Regional Championships with a 3-1 mark, improving his record to 14-7 on the season. Overall, Spicijaric ousted two top seeds in the tournament, including No. 16-seeded Justin Kronauge of Ohio State and No. 4-seeded Matko Maravic of Michigan.

In doubles action as the No. 6 seed, junior Brandon Davis and senior GD Jones went 3-1 in the first event as a doubles tandem. The two ended their run with a loss in the quarterfinals against No. 2-seeded Ryan Keckley And Sherra Parbhu of Notre Dame.

Illinois will be back in action at the Alabama Invitational Oct. 27-29 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

 

SCHEDULED MATCHES
SINGLES

Friday, Oct. 20
DOUBLES

Round of 64 (Doubles Main Draw)
No. 6-seeded Davis/Jones (ILL) def. Brandon Lenfert/Vak Milicevic (E. ILL), 8-4

No. 1-seeded Damar Johnson/Slavko Radman (UL) def. Heiser/Spicijaric (ILL), 8-5

 

Saturday, Oct. 21
SINGLES

Round 64 (Singles Main Draw)
Brandon Davis (ILL) def. Chris Herrlinger (UL); 6-2, 7-5

Billy Heiser (ILL) def. Bart Van Maonsjou (IOWA); 6-1, 7-6

No. 21-seeded Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Mohammed Al Nahbhani (TOL); 6-4, 4-0 (Ret. Injured)

 

Round 32 (Singles Main Draw)
No. 10-seeded Chris Klingemann (OSU) def. Brandon Davis (ILL); 6-1, 6-1

No. 8-seeded Devin Mullings (OSU) def. Billy Heiser (ILL); 6-4, 6-3

No. 21-seeded Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Justin Kronauge (OSU); Defaulted

 

DOUBLES

Round of 32 (Doubles Main Draw)

No. 6-seeded Davis/Jones (ILL) def. RK Bascalla/Alejandro Staub (WMU); 8-1

 

Sunday, Oct. 22
SINGLES

Round 16 (Singles Main Draw)
No. 21-seeded Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. No. 4-seeded Matko Maravic (MICH); 6-4, 6-4

 

DOUBLES

Round of 16 (Doubles Main Draw)

No. 6-seeded Davis/Jones (ILL) def. No. 10-seeded Brian Koniecko/Steven Moneke (OSU), 8-5

 

Quarterfinals (Doubles Main Draw)

No. 2-seeded Ryan Keckley/Sherra Parbhu (ND) def. No. 6-seeded Davis/Jones (ILL), 8-2

 

Monday, Oct. 23
SINGLES

Quarterfinals (Singles Main Draw)
No. 8-seeded Devin Mullings (OSU) def. No. 21-seeded Marc Spicijaric (ILL); 3-6, 6-1, 7-6