Nov. 1, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Illinois men's tennis team will split up to compete at both the Las Vegas Invitational and the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships. Junior Ryan Rowe will travel to the ITA Indoor Championships in Columbus, Ohio on Nov. 2-5, while freshmen Sasha Kharkevitch and Billy Heiser will compete at the Rebel Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., on Nov. 3-5.
 
"I am looking forward to sending Ryan to National Indoors where he will compete against the best in the country," head coach Brad Dancer. "He showed that he is one of the top players right now with his performance at All-Americans. Ryan will be working hard the rest of the week to get ready for the competition. Billy and Sasha will be going to Vegas, where we have always had some success. Last year Ruben (Gonzales) and Ryan both picked up some wins over ranked players, so it will be a good chance for both of our freshmen to get some competitive matches under their belt."
 
Rowe will kickoff action on Thursday, Nov. 2 with his opening-round match against Clement Reix of Clemson, with their match not to begin before 4 p.m. at the Racquet Club of Columbus.
 
This is Ohio State's second straight year to host the ITA National Indoor competition. This week's ITA event serves as the second of three national tournaments for singles and doubles during the 2006-07 collegiate tennis season.
 
The Rebel Classic kicks off Friday morning and will be made up of one flight of doubles and two flights of singles, with consolation play in both brackets. Heiser and Kharkevitch open play on Nov. 3, with their opening-round doubles match beginning at 9 a.m.
 
To follow play at the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, visit the official home age at www.itatennis.com and clicking on the Indoor Championships logo on the right side of the page. For complete results for the Illini this weekend at both the Rebel Classic and Indoor Championships, visit www.fightingillini.com for a full recap at the conclusion of each day's action.
 
BEHIND THE SCENES: ITA NATIONAL INDOORS
The championship features a 32-player singles field and a 16-team doubles field for men and women, including champions from Wilson/ITA Regional Championships held across the country during October, the ITA National Small College champions, the winners of the Polo Ralph Lauren/ITA Men's All-American Tennis Championships and Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships presented by Fila and at-large and wild card selections made earlier this week by the ITA National Tournament Committee.
 
Among the participants in the 2006 championships include defending men's singles champion Benjamin Kohlloeffel of UCLA, who also is the defending outdoor NCAA Champion. Also competing will be Polo Ralph Lauren/ITA All-American champion and finalist Arnau Brugues of Tulsa and John Isner of Georgia, respectively. Georgia's Polo Ralph Lauren All-American doubles champs Isner and Luis Flores highlight the doubles field.
 
The championships will take place at the Racquet Club of Columbus, one of the best indoor facilities in the region that feature 10 Novacrylic tennis courts in three separate bays with spacious viewing lounges. The club hosts several junior and adult tournaments throughout the year.
 
IN DEPTH: REBEL CLASSIC
With renovations to UNLV's on-campus stadium's courts not yet complete, the Rebel Classic will be moved across town to the Darling Memorial Tennis Center. Schools scheduled to send competitors are Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Fresno State, BYU and NAIA program Fresno Pacific.
 
The tournament kicks off Friday morning and will be made up of one flight of doubles and two flights of singles along with consolation play in both. Brackets all schedule to be announced late Thursday, Nov. 2,  or at the beginning of play on Friday, Nov. 3.
 
REBEL CLASSIC SCHEDULE
November 3-5, 2006
Darling Memorial Tennis Center
Las Vegas, Nev.
Friday, Nov. 3                            9 a.m. PT
First Round Doubles               
First Round Singles
Quarterfinal Singles
 
Saturday, Nov. 4                        9 a.m. PT
Quarterfinal Doubles              
Semifinal Singles
Semifinal Doubles

Sunday, Nov. 5                          10 a.m. PT
Final Singles
Final Doubles
Final Consolation Play

MEDIA COVERAGE: ITA NATIONAL INDOORS
The semifinal and championship matches will be broadcast live by Ken Thomas at www.RadioTennis.com.
For live scoring of specific matches, those to be determined on a day-to-day basis, visit the official tournament website located at www.itatennis.com and clicking on the ITA National Indoor Championships logo on the right side of the page.
 
BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE ILLINI
Junior Ryan Rowe will be making his first trip to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships. Rowe is 5-2 overall on the season, including a 3-2 mark against ranked opponents. Rowe's best outing came at the ITA All-American Championships where he battled his way into the quarterfinals, including upsets over No. 5 Travis Helgeson of Georgia and No. 19 Bryan Koniecko of Ohio State before losing to eventual champion No. 7 Arnau Brugues of Tulsa in the quarters.
 
Freshman Billy Heiser kicked off his debut season with a bang, carding an 8-1 record on the young season. Heiser's wins include downing No. 118-ranked Kallim Stewart of California in his first match of the season. Since then, Heiser rattled off eight straight victories before falling to Devin Mullings of Ohio State in the Round of 32 at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships. Heiser had dropped only two sets thus far this season.
 
This is the opening tournament for freshman Sasha Kharkevitch, who has been nursing an injured back since the beginning of the season. The highly talented freshman will use Las Vegas as a stepping stone into the rest of the season.

SCHEDULED MATCHES AT NATIONAL INDOORS
Thursday, Nov. 2
SINGLES
Round 64 (Singles)
Ryan Rowe (ILL) vs. Clement Reix (Clemson), Not before 4 p.m.
 
ITA NATIONAL INDOORS SCHEDULE OF PLAY
Thursday, Nov. 2
Men's Singles - First Round
-Matches 33-40, Not before 4 pm
-Matches 41-48, Not before 5:30 pm

Friday, Nov. 3
Men's Singles - Main Draw Round of 16
-Matches 25-32, Not before 12:30 pm
Men's Singles - Consolation Round of 16
-Matches 41-48, Not before 3:30 pm
Men's Singles - Main Draw Quarterfinals
-Matches 53-56, Not before 5 pm
 
Saturday, Nov. 4
Men's and Women's Singles Consolation Quarterfinals
-Matches 9-16, Not before 11 am
Men's and Women's Singles - Main Draw Semifinals
-Matches 17-20, Not before 1:30 pm
Men's and Women's Singles - Consolation Semifinals
-Matches 21-24, Not before 1:30 pm
 
Sunday, Nov. 5
Men's and Women's Singles and Doubles - Consolation Finals
-10 a.m.
Men's and Women's Singles - Main Draw Finals
-Not before Noon