Sept. 11, 2006
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ­ -
The Illinois men's tennis team continued to show its doubles dominance at the Napa Valley Tennis Classic, going 2-0 on Saturday to remain unbeaten on weekend. Juniors Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe and freshman Billy Heiser also will take with them an untainted record into today's matches, each posting wins to give Illinois a 3-2 record in singles during yesterday's play at the Meadowood Resort in Meadowood, Calif.
No. 17 Anderson took out North Carolina's Benjamin Carlotti 6-3, 7-6(4), while No. 48 Rowe cruised through his match against California's Eoin Heavey 6-4, 6-4. Heiser closed out the singles wins for Illinois with a strong 7-5, 7-5 victory over North Carolina's Kyle Baker.
Having a rough start despite hard-fought matches, sophomore Marc Spicijaric and junior Brandon Davis dropped both of their singles matches at the Meadowood Resort. Spicijaric fell to North Carolina's Sebastian Guejman 6-4, 6-4, while Davis again took his opponent to three sets, but could not pull out the win against California's Ken Nakahara (1-6, 6-4, 6-2).
Anderson and Rowe enter the year ranked No. 1 in the preseason ITA poll, splitting their talents to help Illinois remain undefeated in doubles action at the classic. Davis and Rowe took on North Carolina's Lenny Gullan and Stefan Hardy, winning 8-5. Anderson and Spicijaric easily cruised to their match win, defeating California's Daniel Sebescen and Pierre Mouillon 8-3.
The loaded field pitted the Illini men's tennis team, who finished ninth in the final ITA poll in 2006, against some of the best in the country in North Carolina, Mississippi and California, who finished 12th, 13th and 21st, respectively, in the final ITA polls.
Illinois concludes its trip to the California-based tournament with an 11 a.m. start today at the Meadowood Resort.
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
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, 8-5
Anderson/Spicijaric def. Sebescen/Mouillon, 8-3
