Sept. 25, 2006

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ­ - Junior Brandon Davis and sophomore Marc Spicijaric both looked strong at the Cincinnati Collegiate Invitational held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. The Illini both came away with a 2-1 record in doubles, while Davis led the charge with three singles wins on the weekend.

Davis, who opened the season 0-3, quickly recaptured his form in Cincinnati, going 3-2 in singles, including snatching a pair of convincing wins on the final day of competition against Charles Sartar (Wake Forest) 6-4, 6-2, and Ra'ees Ismail (Xavier) 6-3, 6-7(4) (10-8). Spicijaric finished the event 2-2 in singles, claiming his first victory of the season on Saturday, Sept. 23, against Horatiu Oltean (Louisville) 6-3, 6-0.

The duo, which looked strong in doubles action, toppled Louisville's tandem of Robert Rotaru and David Simon, 8-4, before clinching their final doubles tilt on Sunday, Sept. 25, against Ariusz Adamski and Charles Sartar of Wake Forest, 8-6.

At the Tulsa Challenger, juniors Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe suffered a setback, each falling in their opening-round match of the USTA event qualifier. Anderson dropped his opening contest to top-seeded Eric Nunez (USA) 6-3, 6-4, while Rowe jumped out early on Jason Marshall (USA), but dropped the final two sets to lose the match 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

"Kevin could not really get into a rhythm on the court," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Ryan jumped out to an early lead, but he was not able to put the nail in the coffin."

The Illini return to action on Monday, Oct. 2, when they head to the Polo Ralph Lauren/ITA All-American Championships. Tennis' top collegiate men's players are slated to compete at the University of Tulsa's Michael D. Case Tennis Center, from October 2-8. The event kicks off the 2006-07 collegiate tennis season and will be sponsored by Polo Ralph Lauren for the second d straight year.

RESULTS:
Singles
Friday
Ariusz Adamski (WF) def. Marc Spicijaric (ILL), 4-6, 6-3 (10-5)
Chris Lee (Brown) def. Brandon Davis (ILL), 7-6, 2-6 (10-4)
Saturday
Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Horatiu Oltean (Louisville), 6-3, 6-0
Alex Forger (MSU) def. Brandon Davis (ILL), 6-4, 2-6 (10-6)
Brandon Davis (ILL) def. Andrew Brasseaux (WF), 3-6, 6-4 (10-4)
Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Dara McLoughlin (IU), 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
Sunday
No. 76 Andrew Hamar (WF) def. Marc Spicijaric (ILL), 6-4, 6-1
Brandon Davis (ILL) def. Charles Sartar (WF), 6-4, 6-2
Brandon Davis (ILL) def. Ra'ees Ismail (Xavier), 6-3, 6-7(4) (10-8)

Doubles
Friday
Spicijaric/Davis (ILL) def. Robert Rotaru/David Simon (Louisville), 8-4
Hamar/Brasseaux (WF) def. Spicijaric/Davis (ILL), 8-5
Sunday
Spicijaric/Davis (ILL) def. Adamski/Sartar (WF), 8-6