March 6, 2007

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. ­ - The Illinois men's tennis team continues to move its way up the national charts, receiving a ranking of fifth in the most recent Fila Poll, announced the Intercollegiate Tennis Association today. Juniors Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe also help the Illini be well represented in the top-10 individual rankings, coming in at sixth and eighth, respectively.

In the most recent poll, Illinois and Georgia are the only teams in the country with two or more netters ranked in the top-10 in singles, while the Bulldogs lead all schools with three.

Anderson, who boasts a singles record of 13-4 on the season, including a 7-3 mark against nationally-ranked opponents, boasts a No. 6 ranking in the most recent Fila poll, moving up one spot from his Feb. 22 selection of seventh. Rowe continues to be solid at No. 2 singles for the Illini, posting a 16-5 singles record to move up two spots to No. 8. On the season, he is 9-1 in dual play and 8-4 against ranked opponents.

In doubles, the duo of Ruben Gonzales and Kevin Anderson lead the charge ranked 10th in the country, followed by senior GD Jones and junior Brandon Davis in 32nd. Rounding out the Illini duos in the polls is Anderson and Rowe ranked No. 34.

Illinois is on the road this Friday, March 9, when they face Purdue in West Lafayette for a 5 p.m. (CST) showdown, before returning home to take on No. 29 Wisconsin on Sunday, March 11, at noon.