April 15, 2006

MADISON, Wisc. - The fifth-ranked Illinois men's tennis team overcame a depleted lineup and a tough test from Wisconsin to edge the Badgers 4-3 Saturday afternoon at the Nielsen Tennis Complex. The victory improves Illinois' record to 17-5 and 6-1 in the conference while Wisconsin drops to 9-10, 2-6.

"We had our backs against the wall," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Wisconsin came out gunning for us, but our seniors stepped up and I'm very proud of the team's effort. Pramod and Ryler did an outstanding job in doubles and singles and I can't say enough about Brandon Davis. He had to play on an injured hamstring but kept us alive despite losing his match. The team rallied around him and pulled through."

Illinois started off capturing the doubles point for the 17th time this season. The Orange and Blue are 17-0 when winning the critical point. Sophomores Kevin Anderson and Ruben Gonzales teamed for the first time since January to defeat Gian Hodgson and Elliot Bisnow 8-2. The 17th-ranked senior duo of Pramod Dabir and Ryler DeHeart outlasted 55th-ranked Nolan Polley and Jeremy Sonkin 9-8 (4). Junior GD Jones and freshman Marc Spicijaric closed out the doubles competition with their fourth straight consecutive win, a 9-7 defeat of Felipe Bellido and Lachezar Kasarov.

In singles, Dabir improved to 5-1 in the Big Ten and put Illinois ahead 2-0 with his 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Gian Hodgson at No. 5. Wisconsin answered as Bellido handed Spicijairc a 6-4, 6-3 defeat at No. 4.

Polley evened the match at 2 apiece with his 7-6(9), 6-1 over Jones on court number two, but DeHeart made it 3-2 with his 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Sonkin, who has been named Big Ten Player of the Week on three occasions this season, at the top spot.

Brandon Davis went the distance in his match, but Bisnow overcame the Illini sophomore in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. With the match tied 3-3, Gonzales stepped up to provide the match clincher with a three set triumph over Kasarov at No. 3. The Terre Haute, Ind., native downed Kasarov 6-2, 6-7, 6-2.

Illinois will travel to Evanston, Ill., where they will face Northwestern at noon on Sunday.

No. 7 Illinois 4, at Wisconsin 3

Singles:
1. No. 3 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. Jeremy Sonkin (UW) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
2. Nolan Polley (UW) def. No. 64 G.D. Jones (ILL) 7-6 (9), 6-1
3. Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. Lachezar Kasarov (UW) 6-2, 6-7, 6-2
4. Felipe Bellido (UW) def. Marc Spicijaric (ILL) 6-4, 6-3
5. Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Gian Hodgson (UW) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Elliot Bisnow (UW) def. Brandon Davis (ILL) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 1, 6, 3

Doubles: 1. No. 17 DeHeart/Dabir (ILL) def. No. 55 Polley/Sonkin (UW) 9-8 (4)
2. Jones/Spicijaric (ILL) def. Bellido/Kasarov (UW) 9-7
3. Anderson/Gonzales (ILL) def. Hodgson/Bisnow (UW) 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2