Jan. 29, 2011

Box Score

URBANA, Ill. - After falling behind 1-0 after doubles for the second straight match, the top-seeded Illini (2-1) once again relied on strong singles play to key a 4-1 victory over third-seeded Notre Dame (2-2) Saturday night at Atkins Tennis Center. With the win, Illinois advances to the Sweet 16 of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships hosted by the University of Washington, Feb. 18-21 in Seattle.

"Tonight, we had six guys throwing it all there," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Notre Dame is a very good team. We have to play better in doubles and we have to be more aggressive in singles. Having said that, how you finish is the important thing. We finished strong and I think a huge part of that goes to our conditioning and fitness and our guys' belief in our training systems. I'm immensely proud of them."

After dropping the doubles point, the Illini went on to fall in the first set in five of six singles matches, with junior Dennis Nevolo earning the lone first-set victory, before falling in the second set. With a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line, Illinois stormed back to force a decisive third set in each match.

Sophomore KU Singh, who was down as many as two games in the second set, got the ball rolling with a 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory over No. 71 Stephen Havens, before junior Roy Kalmanovich collected a win over Samuel Keeton, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to give the Illini a 2-1 advantage. No. 11 Nevolo held off No. 104 Casey Watt, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, in the third set to record his 17th win of the year and senior Abe Souza captured his 16th straight home win and clinched the match for the Illini with a victory over Greg Andrews, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (4).

Before the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, Illinois will host several of the country's top teams beginning with No. 14 Duke next Friday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. at Atkins Tennis Center.

Match Results
#16 Illinois 4, #36 Notre Dame 1

Singles competition
1. #11 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. #104 Casey Watt (ND) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
2. KU Singh (ILL) def. #71 Stephen Havens (ND) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
3. #111 Johnny Hamui (ILL) vs. Daniel Stahl (ND) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-4), 2-1, unfinished
4. #121 Abe Souza (ILL) def. Greg Andrews (ND) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. Samuel Keeton (ND) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Stephen Hoh (ILL) vs. #122 Tyler Davis (ND) 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 3-2, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Dennis Nevolo/Johnny Hamui (ILL) def. #47 Tyler Davis/Stephen Havens (ND) 8-1
2. Niall Fitzgerald/Spencer Talmadge (ND) def. Abe Souza/Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) 8-3
3. Greg Andrews/Casey Watt (ND) def. Brian Alden/Stephen Hoh (ILL) 9-7

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