April 3, 2010

Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 15th-ranked Illini men's tennis team (11-7, 3-0 Big Ten) got back on track Saturday afternoon, defeating Purdue (10-9, 0-4), 6-1 to snap a two-match skid. Illinois swept all three doubles matches, while five Illini claimed singles wins on the day.

"This was our third Big Ten road win in a row, which isn't easy to do, so we're pleased with where we're at," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Abe (Souza) had a little hiccup early on, but battled back and got down to business just like he's done all year. Marek (Czerwinski) and Dennis (Nevolo) did a great job of staying focused throughout their matches. In doubles, I thought the team of Stephen (Hoh) and Connor (Roth) was a good combination. They played with a lot of energy and intensity and stuck to their style of play."

After securing all three doubles matches, No. 85 junior Abe Souza struck first in singles, topping Branko Kuzmanovic, 6-3, 6-1 for his career-high 24th victory of the season. No. 35 sophomore Dennis Nevolo followed shortly after with a win by retirement and freshman Stephen Hoh clinched the victory with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Paul Foley. Also capturing wins for the Illini was freshman Bruno Abdelnour over JanFrans Engelbrecht, 6-4, 6-2, and senior Marek Czerwinski held off P.J. Rose, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

The Illini return home Sunday to host Indiana at 2 p.m. at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex.

Match Results
#15 Illinois 6, Purdue 1

Singles competition
1. #35 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Slavko Bijelica (PUR) 6-3, 4-0, retired
2. #57 Marek Czerwinski (ILL) def. P.J. Rose (PUR) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
3. #85 Abe Souza (ILL) def. Branko Kuzmanovic (PUR) 6-3, 6-1
4. Eric Ramos (PUR) def. Connor Roth (ILL) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
5. Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Paul Foley (PUR) 6-3, 6-2
6. Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) def. JanFrans Engelbrecht (PUR) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Marek Czerwinski/Abe Souza (ILL) def. Slavko Bijelica/Branko Kuzmanovic (PUR) 8-5
2. Connor Roth/Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Eric Ramos/P.J. Rose (PUR) 9-8 (10-8)
3. Dennis Nevolo/Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) def. JanFrans Engelbrecht/Billy Heuer (PUR) 8-5

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,1,5,6,4,2)