Feb. 6, 2009
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URBANA, Ill. - The No. 13 Illinois men's tennis team won a grueling 5-2 match over the No. 36 Duke Bluedevils this evening at the Atkins Tennis Center. In a match that lasted over four hours, the Illini battled hard and came up big at the end. Senior Brian Livingston showed his veteran experience at No. 6 singles, clinching the win for the Illini.
With the victory the Illini improve to 4-1 on the season, while the Bluedevils fall to 3-2.
"I think the big thing for us tonight was the play of Marc Spicijaric," head coach Brad Dancer said. "He came up big in doubles and then his comeback in singles changed the match for us a bit. We were on our heels and Duke played well and came out for us and credit to them, but this was Marc's night tonight. In looking forward to tomorrow night, there are some things that we need to work on to prepare for Tennessee. We've said all along that we need to win at the top of the lineup and down low. It was great that our down low guys came up for us tonight, but that's not going to happen every match."
The Illini came out fired up in doubles, not letting the nearly two weeks off from competition affect them. At No. 1 doubles, the duo of senior Marc Spicijaric and junior Marek Czerwinski was no match for the No. 38- ranked Bluedevil tandem of Kiril Dimitrov and Alain Michel, as the Illini cruised to an 8-5 victory. The sensational Illini freshmen duo of Dennis Nevolo and Ruan Roelofse improved their dual record to 3-1 and their overall record to 8-1, with an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles to clinch the doubles point for the Orange and Blue. With the doubles point decided, the No. 3 pairing of Brian Livingston and Roy Kalmanovich battled through to a tiebreaker with the Duke duo of David Holland and Torsten Wietoska, 8-7.
In singles Duke struck back to even the score 1-1, when No.45-ranked Kiril Dimitrov (DUKE) defeated No.23-ranked Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) at No. 2 singles, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1.
At No. 1 singles, it was a battle between No. 41-ranked Dennis Nevolo and No.25-ranked Reid Carleton of Duke. After dominating his first set, 6-3, Nevolo fell ill in the second set and Carleton took the set 6-2. In the third set Nevolo gave everything he had, but was unable to finish the match and was forced to retire in the third set.
Junior Meedo El Tabakh got the Illini back on the board as he evened the score at 2-2 with a fiery win at No. 5 singles. The Tampa, Fla., native took the first set 7-5 and responded with a strong performance in the second set, 6-3, for the straight sets win.
Freshman Ruan Roelofse, playing at No. 3 singles, dropped his first set in a close tiebreaker to Duke's Dylan Arnould. However, the young Illini stormed back to take the second set, 6-3. Roelofse kept the momentum going as he rolled in the third set, downing the Bluedevil, 6-4, to take the match.
With the Illini up 3-2, all eyes focused to the play at Nos. 4 and 6 singles. At No. 6 singles, senior Brian Livingston dropped his first set, then regained his composure taking the next set 6-3. Livingston's veteran leadership showed tonight, as he was solid throughout the third set, clinching the Illini victory with a 6-2 win in the third.
After starting the Illini off on the right foot in doubles, senior leader Spicijaric put the Illini on his back as his match at No. 4 singles fired up the faithful Illini crowd. The Wesley Chapel, Fla., native fell in the first set tiebreaker to Duke's Jared Pinsky, 7-6 (3). After Spicijaric forced a second set tiebreaker, the two traded points back and forth, with the Illini senior not backing down. Spicijaric edged out Pinsky 7-6 (10) in the second set to force a deciding third set. In the third and deciding set, Spicijaric came out energized with the Illini crowd in support. Spicijaric was unstoppable as he edged out Pinsky 7-5 to take the victory.
Up next, the Illini host No. 8 Tennessee Saturday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Atkins Tennis Center. Admission is free and a costume contest will take place in between doubles and singles.
#13 Illinois 5, #36 Duke 2
Feb. 6, 2009
Atkins Tennis Center
Doubles
1) Marek Czerwinski / Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Kiril Dimitrov / Alain Michel (DUKE) 8-5
2) Dennis Nevolo / Ruan Roelofse (ILL) def. Reid Carleton / Dylan Arnould (DUKE) 8-6
3) Brian Livingston / Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. David Holland / Torsten Wietoska (DUKE) 8-7
Order of Finish 1, 2, 3
Singles
1) #25 Reid Carleton (DUKE) def. #41 Dennis 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (ret.)
2) #45 Kiril Dimitrov (DUKE) def. #23 Roy Kalmanovich 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
3) Ruan Roelofse (ILL) def. Dylan Arnould (DUKE) 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4
4) #101 Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Jared Pinsky (DUKE) 6-7 (3), 7-6 (10), 7-5
5) #113 Meedo El Tabakh (ILL) def. Torsten Wietoska (DUKE) 7-5, 6-3
6) Brian Livingston (ILL) def. David Holland (DUKE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish 2, 1, 5, 3, 6, 4
