March 6, 2010
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. - In a match that lasted just under five hours, the 12th-ranked Illini men's tennis team (7-5, 1-0 Big Ten) was victorious in its Big Ten opener Saturday night at No. 34 Northwestern (7-4, 0-1), 5-2 at Combe Tennis Center. No. 66 junior Abe Souza held off Andrew McCarthy to clinch Illinois' third win of the week with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory. It was Souza's third straight win and team-best 19th overall and he also improved to 10-1 this season at Nos. 3-5 singles.
"The leadership of Marek (Czerwinski) and Abe was key again tonight," head coach Brad Dancer said. "And the rest of the team is beginning to follow suit and believe in the model they present. Dennis (Nevolo) has one of the most complete skill sets on the team and he's following the same path as Marek and Abe and picking up some good habits. His play is crucial to our success. The guys who haven't been playing as much have had a big impact on everyone as well. Right now, there's a great sense of team chemistry. Everyone is putting forth a lot of effort to improve and they're starting to believe in the brotherhood of Illinois tennis."
After dropping the doubles point the night before, the Illini took control this time around, as the No. 38 tandem of junior Johnny Hamui and sophomore Dennis Nevolo topped Alex Sanborn and Spencer Wolf, 8-3. No. 49 senior Marek Czerwinski and freshman Stephen Hoh edged Tobias Reitz and McCarthy, 9-8 (3) to secure the 1-0 lead.
For the second straight night, No. 43 Nevolo cruised to a straight sets victory in singles, sweeping Wolf, 6-2, 6-1, and Hoh followed suit with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Sanborn. The Wildcats earned their first point of the night at No. 6 singles, before Souza clinched the win. In the final match of the night, No. 106 Czerwinski needed over two hours to rally back and defeat Joshua Graves, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6), 1-0 (15-13).
The Illini return to action in two weeks when they host Ball State (10 a.m.) and Illinois State (3 p.m.) in a rare Friday doubleheader on March 19 at Atkins Tennis Center.
Match Results
#12 Illinois 5, #34 Northwestern 2
Singles competition
1. #106 Marek Czerwinski (ILL) def. Joshua Graves (NU) 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (8-6), 1-0 (15-13)
2. #43 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Spencer Wolf (NU) 6-2, 6-1
3. #66 Abe Souza (ILL) def. Andrew McCarthy (NU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
4. Sidarth Balaji (NU) def. Johnny Hamui (ILL) 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
5. Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Alex Sanborn (NU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Mark Schanerman (NU) def. Connor Roth (ILL) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #49 Marek Czerwinski/Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Tobias Reitz/Andrew McCarthy (NU) 9-8 (7-3)
2. #38 Johnny Hamui/Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Alex Sanborn/Spencer Wolf (NU) 8-3
3. Joshua Graves/Mark Schanerman (NU) def. Connor Roth/Abe Souza (ILL) 8-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,5,6,3,4,1)
