April 16, 2006

EVANSTON, Ill. - Illinois seniors Ryler DeHeart and Pramod Dabir spoiled Northwestern's home finale as the fifth-ranked Illinois men's tennis team downed the 61st-ranked `Cats 6-1 on Sunday afternoon. The win is the fourth in a row for the Orange and Blue and boosts the teams overall record to 18-5 and 7-1 in the Big Ten conference with two regular season tilts remaining.

"It was a day of senior leadership," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Pramod and Ryler really set the tone of the match with their positive energy and competitive spirit. They did a great job battling all the way through. I was very impressed with how they took charge of the team and helped us get the win."

It was no surprise that the Illini won the doubles point for the eighteenth time this season, but it was a rare loss from the Illini's sophomore duo of Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe that may have been a shocker. The fourth-ranked pair lost their first match of the season 8-6 to Adam Schaechterle and Matt Christian. Before the Illini loss, Illinois' 17th-ranked doubles squad of Dabir and DeHeart beat Christian Tempke and Willy Lock 8-3.

With the critical point on the line, sophomore Ruben Gonzales and junior GD Jones delivered with an 8-4 win over Juan Gomez and Marc Dwyer at the No. 3 position.

Before either team could find a rhythm in singles, rain forced the players inside the Combe Tennis Center. After the 20 minute delay the Orange and Blue struck first as No. 60 Rowe notched a 6-3, 6-2 win over Dwyer at No. 4.

Gonzales followed, putting the Illini ahead 3-0 with his 6-3, 7-5 decision over Schaechterle at the No. 5 position.

Anderson returned to the singles lineup for the first time in four matches to provide the match clinching win. The nation's 20th-ranked player defeated Gomez 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 on the third court.

Dabir put the Orange and Blue up another point with his win at No. 6. Alexey Evstratenkov took the first set 6-3, but Dabir answered with a 6-1win in the second set. The third set reached a tiebreaker, but Dabir outlasted his opponent 7-6 (7-4).

The Wildcats got their first point at No. 2 singles. Lock defeated Jones 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Third-ranked DeHeart was tested by the `Cats' ace, No. 55 Tempke. Tempke took the first set tiebreaker 7-5. The Illinois captain bounced back with a 6-3 win in the second set. The two went into another tiebreaker in the third set, but DeHeart proved too much for Tempke taking seven straight points. DeHeart improves to 11-0 in matches that reach a third set and equally impressive, 15-3 against ranked opponents.

After playing their fifth match in nine days, the Orange and Blue will rest and regroup before hosting Minnesota on Saturday and Iowa on Sunday in the regular season home finale. The prolific careers of seniors Dabir and DeHeart will be recognized on Sunday. First serve of both matches is scheduled for noon.

No. 5 Illinois 6, No. 61 Northwestern 1

Singles:
1. No. 3 Ryler DeHeart (ILL) def. No. 55 Christian Tempke (NU); 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-0)
2. Willy Lock (NU) def. No. 64 GD Jones (ILL); 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
3. No. 20 Kevin Anderson (ILL) def. Juan Gomez (NU); 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
4. No. 60 Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Marc Dwyer (NU); 6-3, 6-2
5. Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. Adam Schaechterle (NU); 6-3, 7-5
6. Pramod Dabir (ILL) def. Alexey Evstratenkov (NU); 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
Order of finish: 4, 5, 3, 6, 2, 1

Doubles:
1. Schaechterle/Christian (NU) def. No. 4 Anderson/Rowe (ILL); 8-6
2. No. 17 Dabir/DeHeart (ILL) def. Tempke/Lock (NU); 8-3
3. Gonzales/Jones (ILL) def. Gomez/Dwyer (NU); 8-4
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3