May 10, 2008

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Illinois head coach Brad Dancer

On the overall team play:
"Our guys did a great job not getting caught up in the scores today. (LSU) put up two quick numbers on us, but the bottom line is that we stayed focused on the task at hand and that showed through."

On losing the doubles point, but coming back to win:
"I think you need to do that psychologically. If you're losing matches every time you lose the doubles point, it is a little disheartening. I am really proud of them for their resiliency today. They did a great job."

On moving forward from today's match:
"I think this was actually an educational match for us today. This reminded me so much of last year. We had the same types of matches. Everyone is fighting and you can see the intensity and emotion on every single court. It's just great to play in these types of matches it reminds you that you can't get caught up in anything else except the point you have to play."

Illinois Senior Ruben Gonzales

On losing the doubles point, but coming back to win the match:
"We hadn't done it this season, but we fought hard today to come back and win it. We came out firing (in singles) and played great today."

On moving to the Sweet 16:
"That's what you have to do in these big tournaments is take it one step at a time and that's what we're doing. We have a couple of days to get ready and I'm really excited."

Illinois Freshman Roy Kalmanovich

On what was working in his game:
"It was quite windy out there today, but I just tried to focus and stay consistent by hitting high percentage shots."

On playing in the NCAA tournament:
"It feels great to finally be able to play. No one really thought I would have the opportunity to play, but it feels really good to compete and to contribute to these wins because I haven't been able to for a while."

Illinois Sophomore Billy Heiser

On clinching the match:
"We work for that everyday and it feels incredible. I did finish a match earlier this year, but it was nothing like this."

On gaining confidence from today's match:
"It's just like last year. We have confidence to know that we can go down early and fight back. We just need to take it one match at a time and get past the sweet 16."

LSU head coach Jeff Brown

On the turning point in the match:
"I thought Spicijaric did a very good job today. He took out one of our key guys today."

On Illinois' play today:
"They won a battle today and that is important to do in a tournament. They will probably be able to take a lot away from today's match and use it next week."