April 5, 2008

Box Score

Urbana, Ill. - The No. 17-ranked Illinois men's tennis team stepped outside this afternoon, for their first home outdoor match this season. With the sunny skies and support from the home crowd, the Orange and Blue cruised by the Penn State Nittany Lions, 5-2.The win improved Illinois to 7-1 at home, including the last five straight. The Illini are now 12-6 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten, while the Nittany Lions fall to 10-9, 3-3.

"It was a good match, Penn State's a good team and I'm happy to get another conference win," head coach Brad Dancer said. "I'm pleased with the way that we pushed through and our next step is to be prepared and ready to take on the Michigan Wolverines tomorrow."

The Orange and Blue started the afternoon strong in doubles action, with the tandem of Ruben Gonzales and Marc Spicijaric at No. 2 doubles wasting no time as they polished off the Penn State duo of Adam Slagter and Chris Sherman, 8-2. However, the Nittany Lions fought back at No. 1 doubles with the No.23-ranked duo of Brendan Lynch and Michael James taking a 8-4 decision over the No.29-ranked Illini tandem of Billy Heiser and Ryan Rowe. With a doubles win for each team, the attention shifted to No. 3 doubles. where senior Brandon Davis and freshman Waylon Chin battled against the Nittany Lion duo of Edward Bourchier and James Dyer. In the end, the senior leadership and guidance of Davis proved to be the deciding factor as Davis/Chin clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 victory.

Gonzales started the Illini off on the right foot in singles action, taking a quick 6-1 first set over No. 63-ranked Michael James. The Nittany Lion was no match for the solid play of the No. 90 ranked Gonzales, as the Illini senior clinched the win with a 6-4 second set. Sophomore Billy Heiser gave the Illini fans something to cheer about as he easily handled PSU's Brendan Lynch, with a 6-1 opening set. The No. 94-ranked Heiser quickly finished off the Nittany Lion in the second set, 6-4, to improve to 3-0 in Big Ten action.

With the Illini up 3-1, all eyes turned to the young Illini play of freshman Waylon Chin at No. 5 singles. Chin took the first set, 6-4 over James Dwyer, before falling 6-3 in the second set. Chin regrouped and cruised to a 6-3 third set win. to clinch the match for Illinois.

No. 12-ranked senior Ryan Rowe battled hard all afternoon at No.2 singles. After dropping the first set, 7-5, the senior composed himself and sailed to 6-2, 6-4 victories in the next two sets. Freshman Abe Souza won the first set over Guillaume St-Maurice 6-4, but did not have enough energy to finish out the match falling in the next two sets.

Illinois next returns to the courts tomorrow against No. 14 Michigan at the Atkins Tennis Center. First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT.

Penn State vs University of Illinois
4/5/2008 at Urbana, Ill.
#17 University of Illinois 5, #43 Penn State 2

Singles competition 1. #90 Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. #63 Michael James (PSU) 6-1, 6-4
2. #12 Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Adam Slagter (PSU) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
3. # 94 Billy Heiser (ILL) def. Brendan Lynch (PSU) 6-1, 6-4
4. Edward Bourchier (PSU) def. Marc Spicijaric (ILL) 6-4, 6-3
5. Waylon Chin (ILL) def. James Dwyer (PSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
6. Guillaume St-Maurice (PSU) def. Abe Souza (ILL) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition 1. #23 Brendan Lynch/Michael James (PSU) def. #29 Billy Heiser/Ryan Rowe (ILL) 8-4
2. Ruben Gonzales/Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Adam Slagter/Chris Sherman (PSU) 8-2
3. Waylon Chin/Brandon Davis (ILL) def. Edward Bourchier/James Dwyer (PSU) 8-6

Match Notes:
Penn State 10-9, 3-3; National ranking #43
University of Illinois 12-6, 4-1; National ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,4,5,2,6)
University of Illinois vs. Penn State
05 April 2008
Atkins Tennis Center
Urbana, Ill.
A-414