Feb. 18, 2008

Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. - The No. 11 Illinois men's tennis team battled into the late hours of Sunday night against No. 36 Washington in the final consolation match of the ITA National Men's Team Indoor Championship at the Nordstrom Tennis Center, winning the dual 4-1 just before the clock struck midnight. In the match, the Illini pulled out a close doubles point and then used spirited wins from senior Ryan Rowe and sophomore Billy Heiser at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, while junior Marc Spicijaric clinched the victory with his three-set marathon on court three.

"This was really a great match for our guys," head coach Brad Dancer said. "We showed a lot of team resiliency and fight tonight. To say that it was a team effort is an understatement. We were down in the doubles and pulled together as a team to pull that point out. Rowe, Marc and Heiser then put out great matches in singles, despite Rowe and Marc losing the first set and then coming back to be the clinching matches for us. We are just battling well right now."

With the win, the 11th-seeded Illini improved to 5-3 on the year, while the 15th-seeded Huskies fell to 5-4 overall.

Illinois was in a tight position against the home team in the doubles portion of the night, as Washington claimed a win on court three and was pressing the issue at Nos. 1 and 2. However, for the fourth straight time this season, the Illini dug deep to win both remaining doubles matches, as seniors Ruben Gonzales and Brandon Davis at one, and senior Ryan Rowe and sophomore Billy Heiser at two, registered 9-7 wins on their respective courts to give Illinois the lead - a position they held for the rest of the night.

"We are playing and competing the way that we want to compete as a team right now," Dancer said of the Illini's effort. "If we can get all six of our guys playing this way, we give ourselves a chance to win against anyone. I know a lot of people are familiar with our team and program, and this is the type of effort that I like to see and that Illinois tennis is known for."

No. 70-ranked Heiser (ILL) gave the Illini a 2-0 lead as he downed Andy Kuharszky (UW) at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-1, putting the home Huskies against the wall for the remainder of the night. Even though it finally reached the board with a win at No. 6, Washington lost its footing the rest of the way.

No. 15-ranked Rowe (ILL), despite losing the opening set in his match on court two, was able to find his game in the final two frames, cruising through the contest 6-1, 6-4. With the match all but won, Spicijaric (ILL) saw the finish line in his match on court four, as he had worked his way back from a one-set deficit and was staring down a win after claiming the second, 7-5, and was in control in the third. With the clock nearing midnight, the Illini junior put the final dagger in the tournament host Washington, as he sealed the win with a 6-3 third-set and clinched Illinois' 4-1 triumph.

With the win, Illinois ends the 2008 ITA Indoor Championship 2-1 in the tournament, winning both of its consolation matches after dropping its opening match against No. 6 USC (4-1) on Feb. 15.

Illinois returns to the courts this weekend as it travels to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the University of Florida Gators on Sunday, Feb. 24, at noon CT, 1 p.m. local.

#11-seed (#11) UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 4, #15-Seed (#36) UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 1
2/17/2008 AT SEATTLE, WASH. (NORDSTROM TENNIS CENTER)

Singles competition
1. Ruben Gonzales (ILL) vs. Ruben Patrick Fischer (UW) - 6-4, 3-6, 2-4 DNF
2. #15 Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (UW) - 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4
3. #70 Billy Heiser (ILL) def. Andy Kuharszky (UW) - 6-4, 6-1
4. Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Derek Drabble (UW) - 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-3
5. Waylon Chin (ILL) vs. Tobi Obenaus (UW) - 6-7(7), 7-6(4), DNF
6. Ryo Sekiguchi (UW) def. Brandon Davis (ILL) -2-6, 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Brandon Davis / Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. Andy Kuharszky / Derek Drabble (UW) - 9-7
2. Ryan Rowe / Billy Heiser (ILL) def. Patrik Fischer / Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (UW) - 9-7
3. Martin Kildahl / Tobi Obenaus (UW) def. Waylon Chin / Marc Spicijaric (ILL) - 8-6

Match Notes
University of Illinois (5-3), National Rankings - 11
University of Washington (5-4), National Ranking - 36
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2); Singles (3, 6, 2, 4)