Sept. 10, 2006
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ­ - Junior Kevin Anderson finished the Napa Valley Tennis Classic 3-0 en route to his Most Valuable Player honor today at the Meadowood Resort in Meadowood, Calif. The three-day event, and the Illinois men's tennis team's opening tournament of the year, gave head coach Brad Dancer a good look at what he can expect this season as his Illini finished 4-1 in doubles action.
"I think it was a good start for the team," Dancer said. "We did a lot of things well and carried out our game plans. There are things in singles and in doubles that we can work on. We will just continue to get better as the season progresses. Kevin's honor was very deserving and he played great all weekend long. It also was good for Billy to have such a strong opening tournament."
No. 17 Anderson polished off a perfect weekend at the classic, handling California's Pierre Mouillon 6-2, 6-2 to post a 3-0 record. Junior No. 48 Ryan Rowe carded a 2-1 record after falling in his final match of the tournament to Mississippi's No. 118 Robbye Poole 6-4, 0-6, 6-1.
The final match of singles for the Illini featured sophomore Marc Spicijaric, who gave No. 8 Erling Tveit of Mississippi all that he could handle in their three-set match. Spicijaric took an early lead over the preseason top-10 player 7-6(7) in the first-set tiebreak, before Tveit took the second in a tiebreak 7-6(4). With each player owning a set, Spicijaric could not close out the upset despite looking at three match points, falling 1-0(10-3) in the time-shortened third set.
In doubles action, freshman Billy Heiser and junior Brandon Davis came up just short of keeping the Illini perfect in doubles tilts on the weekend, falling to North Carolina's pair of Benjamin Carlotti and Sebastian Guejman 9-8(5).
In all, Illinois went 7-6 in singles, with both Anderson and Heiser (2-0) finishing the weekend unbeaten. Rowe went 2-1, while both Spicijaric (0-3) and Davis (0-2) left empty handed.
In doubles action, Davis/Rowe and Anderson/Spicijaric both posted 2-0 records, while Heiser/Davis came away with a 0-1 record.
"As always, it is great to get some early matches under our belt," Dancer said. "To get those matches against some great competition is invaluable. These guys will be able to use what they have learned this weekend all season long."
Singles Results
Friday's Results
No. 17 Kevin Anderson def. No. 8 Erling Tveit (Ole Miss), 6-2, 6-2
No. 48 Ryan Rowe def. No. 98 Bram ten Berge (Ole Miss), 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-2
Billy Heiser def. No. 115 Kallim Stewart (Cal), 6-4, 7-5
Daniel Sebescen (Cal) def. Marc Spicijaric, 6-1, 6-4
Kyle Baker (UNC) def. Brandon Davis, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
Saturday's Results
No. 17 Kevin Anderson def. Benjamin Carlotti (UNC), 6-3, 7-6(4)
No. 48 Ryan Rowe def. Eoin Heavey (Cal), 6-4, 6-4
Billy Heiser def. Kyle Baker (UNC), 7-5, 7-5
Sebastian Guejman (UNC) def. Marc Spicijaric, 6-4, 6-4
Ken Nakahara (Cal) def. Brandon Davis, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
Sunday's Results
No. 17 Kevin Anderson def. Pierre Mouillon (Cal), 6-2, 6-2
No. 118 Robbye Poole (Ole Miss) def. No. 48 Ryan Rowe, 6-4, 0-6, 6-1
No. 8 Erling Tveit (Ole Miss) def. Marc Spicijaric, 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 1-0(10-3) [Time Shortened]
Doubles Results
Friday's Results
Rowe/Davis def. Browne/Storm (Ole Miss), 8-5
Anderson/Spicijaric def. No. 18 Tveit/Aarum (Cal), 9-8(7-3)
Saturday's Results
Rowe/Davis def. Gullan/Hardy (UNC), 8-5
Anderson/Spicijaric def. Sebescen/Mouillon (Cal), 9-8(7-3)
Sunday's Results
Carlotti/Guejman (UNC) def. Heiser/Davis 9-8(5)
