Feb. 26, 2006

URBANA, Ill. - The third-ranked Fighting Illini completed their Big Ten home opening weekend with a 7-0 win over No. 60 Penn State on Sunday. The Illini picked up their 54th straight Big Ten victory and improve to 10-1 on the season and 2-0 in the conference.

"We just play each match one at a time," head coach Brad Dancer said. "We played better today than we did yesterday and we're going to keep moving forward. The guys will take a couple of days off and will get ready for our `second season.' Everything from here on out will be geared toward the outdoor season. We've already put the nets up outside and hopefully Mother Nature cooperates and we'll be ready to get out there."

The Illini were successful early as they captured the doubles point. It only took 25 minutes for sophomore Kevin Anderson and freshman Marc Spicjaric to notch the Illini's first win as they cruised to an 8-1 victory over Michael James and Malcolm Scatliffe on court No. 2. Senior Pramod Dabir and sophomore Brandon Davis clinched the doubles point with an 8-3 win at No. 3 over Ryan Berger and Bradley Hunter.

After the intermission, Illinois asserted its singles dominance. Sophomore Ruben Gonzales beat James in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 to improve to 7-3 in dual matches. Spicijaric put the Illini ahead 3-0 as he was also a straight set winner, posting a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Brenden Lynch to keep his dual match record unblemished at 8-0. Senior Ryler DeHeart clinched the Illinois win with his 122nd career singles victory, a 6-2, 6-4 downing of Berger on court No. 3. The 2005 All-American is 23-3 this year and needs just one more singles win to tie Michael Clakins' Illinois career record set in 2004.

Coach Dancer's Illini contingent will have eight days off before resuming the conference schedule when they host Purdue on March 7 at 6 p.m.

Sunday, February 26, 2006 Results
No. 3 ILLINOIS 7, No. 60 Penn State 0

Singles:
1. No. 6 Kevin Anderson (ILL) def. Mark Berry (PSU); 6-4, 6-4
2. No. 71 GD Jones (ILL) def. Malcolm Scatliffe (PSU); 6-7(2), 7-5, 1-0(7)
3. No. 2 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. Ryan Berger (PSU); 6-2, 6-4
4. Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. Michael James (PSU); 6-1, 6-1
5. No. 100 Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Adam Slagter (PSU); 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
6. Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Brenden Lynch (PSU); 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 4, 6, 3, 1, 5, 2

Doubles:
1. No. 21 DeHeart/Gonzales(ILL) vs. Barry/Slagter (PSU); 5-6 DNF
2. Anderson/Spicijaric (ILL) def. James/Scatliffe (PSU); 8-1
3. Dabir/Davis (ILL) def. Berger/Lynch (PSU); 8-3
Order of finish: 2, 1