Sept. 18, 2011
Box Score
Complete Results
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. - The Illini men's tennis team captured three singles matches in the final day of the Olympia Fields Country Club Fighting Illini Invitational on Sunday. Senior
Dennis Nevolo led the Orange and Blue throughout the tournament, going a perfect 4-0 in singles play over the weekend. For his effort, the 2011 All-American was named Most Outstanding Player of the invitational for the second straight season.
On a day plagued by rain, teams were only able to play one singles round. Play was forced inside soon after the first six matches began, and each squad moved to the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Racquet Club to finish the round.
"We had an outstanding weekend of tennis," Illini head coach Brad Dancer said. "Olympia Fields continues to be the premiere host for a college tennis tournament. We're flattered that they continue to invite us back every year. In terms of our performance, you can see some of the things that we're doing well. Obviously at this point in the year, sometimes we're not able to finish some of the matches the way we want to. But our competitive spirit and fighting spirit were very good throughout the weekend. Now, we just need to coach our players and build skill."
No. 7 Nevolo took on Kentucky's Tom Jomby, who was undefeated going into day three of the tournament. Not even rain could faze the Gurnee, Ill., native, as his match was one of six to be forced indoors after starting on the outdoor clay courts. Nevolo swept Jomby, 6-3, 6-2, handing Jomby his only loss of the tournament.
Meanwhile, junior Stephen Hoh captured a straight-set victory of his own. The Australia native bounced back after struggling in Saturday's action to claim a 6-4, 6-3 win over Sudanwa Sitaram of Texas. Classmate Bruno Abdelnour picked up a victory as well, defeating Notre Dame's Wyatt McCoy, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, to finish the tournament with a 3-1 singles record.
Overall, the Illini went 10-6 in singles and 1-3 in doubles action on the weekend.
The Illini return to action next weekend at the University of Virginia Ranked +1 Invitational, Sept. 23-25 in Charlottesville, Va.
OFCC Illini Results Day 3
#7 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Tom Jomby (UK), 6-3, 6-2
Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Sudanwa Sitaram (UT), 6-4, 6-3
Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) def. Wyatt McCoy (ND), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
#113 Ben Chen (UT) def. Tim Kopinski (ILL)
