April 20, 2008
Box Score
2008 Big Ten Tournament Bracket in PDF Format 
IOWA CITY, Iowa. - The No. 17 Illinois men's tennis team finished out the regular season with a dominating 7-0 sweep over the No. 53 Iowa Hawkeyes at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex this afternoon. With the win, Illinois improves to 16-7, 8-2 in the Big Ten, while the Hawkeyes fall to 12-9, 4-6.
"Today's match was a great way for the team to end the regular season, everyone really stepped up for us today," head coach Brad Dancer said. "From here on out we are going to need everyone to continue to step up their games at Big Ten's and then NCAA's after that."
The Orange and Blue started off the afternoon in convincing fashion by sweeping the doubles point. The No. 8 nationally ranked Illini duo of Billy Heiser and Ryan Rowe took care of business at No.1 doubles with 8-6 win over the No. 46 nationally ranked Iowa tandem of Bart van Monsjou and J.P. Ritchie. At No. 2 doubles, the Illini pairing of senior Ruben Gonzales and junior Marc Spicijaric proved to be too much for the Iowa duo of Greg Holm and Patrick Dwyer with the Illini overwhelming the Hawkeyes 8-3. Senior Brandon Davis and freshman Waylon Chin, at No. 3 doubles, finished the doubles sweep with an 8-4 decision over the Hawkeye duo of Christian Bierich and Austen Kauss.
The Illini continued the domination in singles play. As the intense play of No. 53 nationally ranked Ruben Gonzales (ILL) proved to be too much for Bart van Monsiou (IOWA), with the Illini senior taking a 6-2, 6-3 decision at the No. 1 singles spot.
Playing at No. 2 singles, No. 13 nationally-ranked senior Ryan Rowe continued his winning ways as he downed Christian Bierich (IOWA) in straight sets 7-5, 6-2. At No. 3 and No. 4 singles respectively, junior Marc Spicijaric and sophomore Billy Heiser battled back from first set deficits to win their matches in three sets and add to the Illini sweep.
Rounding out the victory were freshmen Waylon Chin, 7-6 (6), 6-0 and Connor Roth, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 1-0 (8), who tacked on two more victories for the Orange and Blue at No. 5 and No. 6 singles.
Up next, Illinois heads back to Iowa City for the 2008 Big Ten Tournament Championship, next Thursday-Sunday, April 24-27. The No. 3 seed Illini will face the winner of the match between No. 6 seed Indiana/No. 11 seed Northwestern at 2:00 p.m. CT on Friday, April 25.
Match Notes
University of Illinois vs. Iowa
Apr 20, 2008 at Iowa City, IA
#17 University of Illinois 7, #53 Iowa 0
Singles competition
1. No. 53 Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. Bart van Monsjou (IOWA) 6-2, 6-3
2. No. 13 Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Christian Bierich (IOWA) 7-5, 6-2
3. Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. J.P. Ritchie (IOWA) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (7)
4. No. 103 Billy Heiser (ILL) def. Reinoud Haal (IOWA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Waylon Chin (ILL) def. Tommy McGeorge (IOWA) 7-6 (6), 6-0
6. Connor Roth (ILL) def. Gregory Holm (IOWA) 6-4, 6-7 (5), 1-0 (8)
Doubles competition
1. Billy Heiser/Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Bart van Monsjou/J.P. Ritchie (IOWA) 8-6
2. Ruben Gonzales/Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Patrick Dwyer/Gregory Holm (IOWA) 8-3
3. Waylon Chin/Brandon Davis (ILL) def. Christian Bierich/Austen Kauss (IOWA) 8-4
Order of Finish:
Doubles: (2, 3, 1)
Singles: (1, 2, 5, 3, 6, 4)
Match Notes:
University of Illinois 16-7; National ranking #17
Iowa 12-9; National ranking #53
