CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois men's tennis team begins its 2006-07 campaign with a trip to the Napa Valley Tennis Classic in Meadowood, Calif., from Sept. 8-10. The Fighting Illini take with them the tandem of All-American juniors
Kevin Anderson and
Ryan Rowe, the 2006 NCAA doubles champions, followed by returnees sophomore
Marc Spicijaric, junior
Brandon Davis and newcomer freshman
Billy Heiser.
The tournament is presented by the title sponsor, Residential Pacific Mortgage, and supporting sponsors, Nike, Powerbar and Private Wealth Partners. Participants in the three-day tournament include host California, Illinois, North Carolina and Mississippi.
2005-06 REVIEW
The Fighting Illini finished the 2005-06 season ranked ninth in the final Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings, making them one of only two Big Ten teams to finish in the top 10 (Ohio State, fifth). Illinois also finished second in the Big Ten regular season (9-1) and in the Big Ten Tournament (2-1), behind conference and tournament-champion Ohio State.
NCAA DOUBLES CHAMPIONS
The tandem of Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe captured the 2006 NCAA doubles championship, entering the event as the fourth seed. Having lost only one match heading into the competition, the two posted wins over the No. 16, No. 20, No. 29 and the No. 27 seeds to punch their ticket into the finals. The two made their way to the championship match having dropped only two sets in the process. With the momentum, Anderson/Rowe cruised through the match, losing a combined six points to defeat No. 3-seeded Andre Begemann and Scott Doerner of Pepperdine 6-2, 6-4. With the win, the two became only the third doubles team in Illinois history to win the crown.
A LOOK BACK AT LAST YEAR'S NAPA VALLEY CLASSIC
At the 2005 Napa Valley Classic, the Illini went 14-9 in singles over the three-day event and took each of their eight doubles tilts. The Illini competed against high quality opponents facing Georgia, North Carolina and host California. There were no team results as it was an individual round robin format.
Two of the Illini's top-ranked players at the time, Ryler DeHeart, then ranked No. 1, and Kevin Anderson, then ranked No. 18, finished the weekend undefeated. Illini sophomore Ryan Rowe also concluded the weekend play with a 3-0 record.
NEWCOMERS
Freshmen Billy Heiser and Sasha Kharkevitch join the Illini for the 2006-07 campaign. Heiser, home-schooled by the Laurel Springs School distance learning program, has been ranked in the top-15 nationally in every age division. Heiser also has been ranked as high as No. 1 in the Midwest and held that position throughout his high school career. Kharkevitch comes to Illinois after achieving a ranking of No. 2 in the state of Texas by the USTA 18-and-under division. In 2004, Kharkevitch was ranked as high as No. 24 in the nation in the USTA 16-and-under division.
THE SENIOR STANDS ALONE
The 2006-07 Fighting Illini are led by the senior leadership of GD Jones, who finished the 2005-06 season ranked 12th in the Midwest and 86th nationally. The fairly young Illini team, which includes Jones, four juniors (Kevin Anderson, Ruben Gonzales, Brandon Davis, Ryan Rowe), sophomore (Marc Spicijaric) and two freshmen (Billy Heiser, Sasha Kharkevitch), looks to continue the recent success of Illinois men's tennis program that won the NCAA team title in 2003.
A LOOK AT THE WEEKEND
Illinois and North Carolina return to the Napa Valley Classic after competing in the event last season.
Two of the Fighting Illini's weekend opponents reached the sweet 16 of the 2006 NCAA Championships. The Tar Heels advanced to the sweet 16 for the first time since 1993 before getting ousted by Ohio State. They ended the year ranked No. 12. Illinois also reached the round of 16, falling to eventual NCAA champion UCLA. Ole Miss's season was ended by No. 3-seeded Texas in the sweet 16.
