Feb. 25, 2006
URBANA, Ill. -
The third-ranked Fighting Illini opened the conference slate on Saturday with a 7-0 win over No. 69 Indiana at Atkins Tennis Center. With the victory, the Orange and Blue improve to 9-1 on the season and have won 53 consecutive Big Ten matches, including 11 in a row over the Hoosiers. Illinois will return to Atkins Tennis Center when they face Penn State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
"We're happy to be1-0 in the Big Ten, but we have a lot more work to do. This team is yet to reach its full potential" head coach Brad Dancer said.
The Illini earned their sixth shutout of the season even without their senior leader and All-American Ryler DeHeart. The Tampa, Fla., native was not in Saturday's lineup because NCAA rules regulate how many matches a player can participate in.
The Illini started the match strong, earning the doubles point for the ninth time this season. Senior Pramod Dabir and sophomore Brandon Davis got their second dual match win and ninth win of the year with an 8-3 defeat of Mike McCarthy and Mak Kendall on court three. Sophomore Ruben Gonzales and freshman Marc Spicijaric quickly followed with an 8-3 win on the second court over Peter Antons and David Bubenicek. The Illini's fifth-ranked sophomore tandem of Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe added insurance with another 8-3 dispatching of the Hoosiers top team of Dmytro Ishuganov and Dara McLoughlin to keep their dual match record unblemished at 9-0.
In singles, the Illini jumped all over the Hoosiers taking each first set, but Indiana bounced back to force three matches into a third set.
On court six, Spicijaric put Illinois ahead 2-0 with his fifth straight-set win of the dual season. The freshman downed Arnaud Roussel 6-1, 6-2 to improve to 6-0 in dual matches.
Gonzales got his second win of the year at the number three spot with a 6-0, 6-4 win over McLoughlin. Dabir sealed the Illinois victory soon after with another straight set win. Dabir went down 2-0 against McCarthy in the second set, but rallied back to take the match 6-4, 6-4 and improve to 6-0 in dual matches.
Anderson and Jones both won their matches in a third set super tiebreaker at number one and two, respectively. Anderson notched his first win of the season at the top spot edging 2006 Big Ten Singles Championship runner up Ishtuganov, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0(8). Jones handed Bubnicek his second loss of the dual season with a 7-6(0), 5-7, 1-0 (2) defeat.
Rowe went the distance in his match with Neil Kenner. The two hour marathon ended with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 Illinois victory to seal the shutout.
#3 Illinois 7, #69 Indiana 0
February 25, 2006
Atkins Tennis Center
Urbana, Ill.
Singles:
1. #6 Kevin Anderson (ILL) def. Dmytro Ishtuganov (IND); 6-4, 2-6, 1-0(8)
2. #71 GD Jones (ILL) def. David Bubenicek (IND); 7-6, 5-7, 1-0(2)
3. Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. Dara McLoughlin (IND); 6-0, 6-4
4. Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Neil Kenner (IND); 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
5. #100 Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Mike McCarthy (IND); 6-4, 6-4
6. Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Arnaud Roussel (IND); 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 3, 5, 1, 2, 4
Doubles:
1. #5 Anderson/Rowe (ILL) def. Ishtuganov/McLoughlin (IND); 8-3
2. Gonzales/Spicijaric (ILL) def. Antons/Bubenicek (IND); 8-3
3. Dabir/Davis (ILL) def. McCarthy/Kendall (IND); 8-3
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
