May 9, 2008

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Tournament Central

URBANA, Ill. - The No. 15-seed Illinois men's tennis team easily took care of business in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Xavier, defeating the Musketeers 4-0, at the Atkins Tennis Center this afternoon. With the win, the Illini improve to 19-8, while Xavier, making its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, finishes their season 16-9.

"We were confident going into Xavier," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Today was a good model for what we're trying to do. What showed today is what we hope to show. I think we prepared really well and the guys are extremely focused. I think they want it very badly. It still means anything can happen and in any match you can be out of it just like that, but I think our guys are prepared and hungry."

The Illini have advanced to the second round every year since 1999 when the tournament opened to a 64-team field.

In the match against the Musketeers, the Illini tallied wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to seal the point and take a 1-0 lead into singles.

Junior Marc Spicijaric wasted no time on the court at No. 3 singles, finishing off Ra'ees Ismail (XAV) 6-0, 6-0, giving the Orange and Blue a 2-0 lead.

"I thought we did a good job of staying focused throughout the match," junior Marc Spicijaric said. "I think we were really ready to start NCAA's. It had been two weeks since Big Tens. Getting a quick start is really important to us for tomorrow and hopefully heading into Tulsa."

Sophomore Billy Heiser edged the Illini toward the second round with a 6-1, 6-0 defeat over J.T. Torbeck (XAV). Freshman Roy Kalmanovich, making his debut in front of the home crowd at No. 5 singles, clinched the win for the Illini with a straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, victory over Brian Schubert (XAV).

The Illini will face the winner of the other first round match (Drake/LSU) in the second round tomorrow at the Atkins Tennis Center. First serve is set for 2 p.m. CT. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Live scoring will be available at fightingillini.com.

Match Results
Xavier vs University of Illinois
5/9/2008 at Urbana, Ill.
#15 University of Illinois 4, Xavier 0

Singles competition
1. #21 Ryan Rowe (ILL) vs. Doug Matthews (XAV) 6-2, 4-2, unfinished
2. #42 Ruben Gonzales (ILL) vs. Chris Herrlinger (XAV) 6-1, 6-5, unfinished
3. Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Ra'ees Ismail (XAV) 6-0, 6-0
4. Billy Heiser (ILL) def. J.T. Torbeck (XAV) 6-1, 6-0
5. Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. Brian Schubert (XAV) 6-2, 6-2
6. Waylon Chin (ILL) vs. Mike Dieciuc (XAV) 6-3, 4-3, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. #11 Ryan Rowe/Billy Heiser (ILL) vs. Chris Herrlinger/Doug Matthews (XAV) 5-2, unfinished
2. #42 Marc Spicijaric/Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. Ra'ees Ismail/J.T. Torbeck (XAV) 8-0
3. Brandon Davis/Waylon Chin (ILL) def. Anthony Palmenter/Brian Starr (XAV) 8-1

Match Notes:
Xavier 16-9, 6-1
University of Illinois 19-8, 8-2; National ranking #15
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,4,5)
Xavier vs. University of Illinois
May 9, 2008
NCAA First Round
Atkins Tennis Center