Jan. 17, 2009
Box Score
URBANA, Ill. - The No. 15 Illinois men's tennis team came out firing on all cylinders this evening dominating the No. 14 Pepperdine Waves, 6-1, in front of 300-plus fans at the Atkins Tennis Center. With the win, the Illini improve to 3-0 on the young season, while the Pepperdine Waves drop to 1-1.
"Tonight was a good win for us," head coach Brad Dancer said. "I'm happy to get the season started on the right foot. We came out ready to play tonight and executed extremely well in doubles. The guys were able to carry the momentum into singles and get some victories. This win definitely gives us a confidence boost."
In doubles, all three Illini tandems came out sharp and confident. With the help of the boisterous Illini crowd behind them the Orange and Blue swept all three doubles matches. At No. 2 doubles, the Illini duo of freshman Dennis Nevolo and Ruan Roelofse were the first to victory, downing Pepperdine's Mahmoud Kamel and Alex Liompart, 8-5. At No. 3 doubles, it was the Illini pair of seniors Marc Spicijaric and Brian Livingston who clinched the pivotal doubles point for the Orange and Blue. The Illini duo cruised out to an early 5-3 lead and never looked back, taking the match 8-3 over Pepperdine's Jensen Turner and Hugh Clarke. With the doubles point decided, all eyes turned to No. 1 doubles. In the 7-7 tiebreaker, the Illini tandem of Marek Czerwinski and Billy Heiser upended No. 45-ranked Omar Altmann and Bassam Beidas (PEP), 8-7 (5).
No. 101-ranked Spicijaric then kicked off the singles portion of the night for the Orange and Blue, wasting little time in taking care of No.57-ranked Mahmoud Kamel, 6-2, 6-2, in a straight sets victory. Right behind him was Czerwinski at No. 5 singles. The Birmingham, Mich., native was too much for Pepperdine's Jensen Turner, as Czerwinski took a dominating 6-2, 6-0 win.
With a convincing 3-0 lead in the match, it was a race to the finish line, with Livingston sealing the dual victory at No. 6 singles. The Skokie, Ill., native won a decisive 6-2, 6-3, win over Pepperdine's Alejandro Moreno.
The Waves found the scoreboard in the final moments of the night, but Roelofse (ILL) added to the 6-1 victory for Illinois in his win over Pepperdine's Alex Liompart, 7-6 (6), 6-3, on court four, while Kalmanovich gutted out another victory at No. 1 singles, topping No. 122-ranked Bassam Beidas 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
The Illini now travel to Charlottesville, Va., where they will take on fifth-ranked Virginia in a Friday night showdown at 6 p.m. CT.
No. 15 Illinois 6, No. 14 Pepperdine 1
Jan. 17, 2009
Atkins Tennis Center
Urbana, Ill.
Doubles Competition
1) Marek Czerwinski / Billy Heiser (ILL) def. #45 Omar Altmann/Bassam Beidas (PEP) 8-7 (5)
2) Dennis Nevolo / Ruan Roelofse (ILL) def. Mahmoud Kamel / Alex Liompart (PEP) 8-5
3) Marc Spicijaric / Brian Livingston (ILL) def. Jensen Turner / Hugh Clarke 8-3
Order of Finish (2,3,1)
Singles Competition
1) #23 Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. #122 Bassam Beidas (PEP) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
2) #51 Omar Altmann (PEP) def. #41 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
3) #101 Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. #57 Mahmoud Kamel (PEP) 6-2, 6-2
4) Ruan Roelofse (ILL) def. Alex Liompart (PEP) 7-6 (6), 6-3
5) Marek Czerwinski (ILL) def. Jensen Turner (PEP) 6-2, 6-0
6) Brian Livingston (ILL) def. Alejandro Moreno (PEP) 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish (3,5,6,4,2,1)
