Nov. 2, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Illinois men's tennis junior Ryan Rowe advanced into the second round of the ITA Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday night. Rowe defeated Clement Reix of Clemson in his opening-round match, 6-4, 7-6(5), to earn a spot opposite his second-round opponent Todd Paul of Wake Forest. The two will square off on Friday, Nov. 3, with the match scheduled to not to start before 2:30 p.m. (CST).

"Ryan did a good job of staying composed today and sealing the victory," head coach Brad Dancer said. "I don't think Ryan played his best tennis. He was not smooth on his ground strokes and moved a little slow, but was able to stay composed and did what he needed to do to get the job done, even when he was not on the top of his game."

Paul earned his way into the second round by taking out No. 3-seeded Arnau Brugues of Tulsa, the same netter who dismissed Rowe in the quarterfinals of the Polo Ralph Lauren/ITA All-American Championships, in the first round. Paul defeated Brugues in straight sets 7-6(6), 6-0.

Paul, a senior from Stamford, Conn., is a strong lefthander and a two-time All-ACC selection for the Demon Deacons, and will be a good challenge for Rowe in the second round. Paul, a former ACC Freshman Player of the Year and is ranked No. 14 in the Fila preseason poll, is no stranger to a high-level of competition. This is the first meeting between Rowe in Paul, while the Demon Deacon senior is currently riding a six-match winning streak.

"Todd Paul has a big first serve and has a game suited for indoors," Dancer said. "Paul has a big forehand and hits a flat ball. Ryan is going to have to step it up in the second round to try and dictate points early against Paul to get a win."

For continued coverage and live scoring of the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, visit the official home page at www.itatennis.com by clicking on the Indoor Championships logo on the right side of the page.

SCHEDULED MATCHES AND RESULTS
Thursday, Nov. 2
SINGLES
Round 64 (Singles)
Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Clement Reix (Clemson), 6-4. 7-6(5)

Friday, Nov. 3
SINGLES
Round 32 (Singles)
Ryan Rowe (ILL) vs. Todd Paul (WF), Not before 2:30 p.m. (CST)

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.

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.