Sept.8, 2006
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Opening the season strong, the Illinois men's tennis team swept its doubles matches and went 3-2 in singles action in its first day at the Napa Valley Tennis Classic in Meadowood, Calif., today. Junior Kevin Anderson, recently ranked No. 17 in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll, upset No. 8 Erling Tveit of the University of Mississippi in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 to lead the Fighting Illini. Junior Ryan Rowe and freshman Billy Heiser also finished the day victorious.
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.
"It was a good day for Kevin and Ryan," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Ryan showed a lot of composure in his match, giving signs of maturation as a player from a year ago. Kevin did a great job of attacking serves, something that we have been working on a lot in practice. Billy's win was a great start for him. He stuck to his game plan and kept the game simple, playing within himself and not forcing anything."
No. 48-ranked Rowe defeated No. 97-ranked Bram ten Berge of the University of Mississippi 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-2, while Heiser swept California's No. 115 Kallim Stewart 6-4, 7-5 in his collegiate debut. Anderson's victory comes as an early milestone on the year, as Tveit was a semifinalist in last year's NCAA singles championship.
In doubles action, Rowe teamed with junior Brandon Davis to top the California tandem of Tyler Browne and Carsten Storm, 8-5, while Anderson paired with sophomore Marc Spicijaric to topple Ole Miss' doubles pair of 18th ranked Tveit and Fredrick Aarum, 9-8.
Also in action today, Spicijaric fell to Cal's Daniel Sebescen 6-1, 6-4, while Davis was in a dogfight against Kyle Baker of North Carolina, eventually falling in three sets by a score line of 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
"Both Marc and Brandon started off well and have a great chance of rebounding tomorrow," Dancer said.
The Fighting Illini continue action at the three-day Napa Valley Tennis Classic with an 11 a.m. (CST) start.
Singles 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, 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
Doubles Results
Rowe/Davis def. Browne/Storm (Ole Miss), 8-5
Anderson/Spicijaric def. No. 18 Tveit/Aarum (Cal), 9-8(7-3)
