Jan. 14, 2012
Box Score
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -The Fighting Illini men's tennis team wrapped up its first tournament of the spring Saturday at the Gardnar Mulloy Miami Invitational, hosted by the University of Miami. No. 17 Illinois went 12-8 in singles play and 4-5 in doubles action, taking on opponents from No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 22 Texas Tech and No. 31 Miami. Senior Roy Kalmanovich led the Illini all weekend, going a perfect 3-0 in singles to earn Most Outstanding Player accolades.
"Roy was not at his best in terms of making shots," Illini head coach Brad Dancer said. "But he used some of his experience as a competitor to bring an incredible intensity all weekend long. It was a shining point for our team. Both Dennis (Nevolo) and Roy were great leaders for us on the court. Roy was very aggressive, and Dennis did a great job of calming himself under pressure. We got what was necessary from both guys and what was applicable in each situation."
The Illini got off to a strong start, capturing four singles matches against Texas A&M on the first day of action, as Kalmanovich, who is ranked 24th nationally, took down No. 19 Alexis Klegou in straight sets. Junior Stephen Hoh upset a ranked opponent as well, edging No. 73 Jeremy Efferding in a 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 battle. Freshmen Tim Kopinski and Ross Guignon also got in on the winning action, adding opening-day singles victories for the Orange and Blue. In doubles play, the Illini went 1-3 on day one, as Kalmanovich and junior Bruno Abdelnour teamed up for an 8-5 win over Francisco Zambon and Raphael Pfister of Texas Tech.
On the second day of action, Illinois collected four singles wins over Miami, as Kalmanovich picked up his second solo victory of the weekend. Fellow senior Dennis Nevolo, the No. 2-ranked player in the country, Abdelnour, and newcomer Farris Gosea each added wins as well, marking Gosea's first-career collegiate victory. Nevolo and Gosea also secured the lone day-two doubles victory for the Orange and Blue against Texas A&M's Junior Ore and Jackson Withrow.
On day three, the Illini had their best showing of the tournament, claiming four wins in singles play. Kalmanovich, Nevolo, Hoh and Gosea each won their singles matches, while in doubles, the duo of Nevolo and Gosea and the tandem of newcomers Guignon and Kopinski each came away with victories. Nevolo remained undefeated throughout the tournament, going 2-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles.
"The effort from our guys was very good in singles throughout the weekend," Dancer said. "We still have some improvements to make for doubles play. We have a very tenacious group this year, and I like what I see in terms of what they are showing on the court."
The Orange and Blue will return to action next Friday, Jan. 20 to host Detroit Mercy (3 p.m.) and Ball State (7 p.m.) at Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana, where they will kick off the 2012 dual season.
Illini Results
Day One - Thursday, Jan. 12
Doubles
Raony Carvalho / Rafael Garcia (TT) def. Stephen Hoh / Tim Kopinski (ILL), 8-5
Gonzalo Escobar / Vitor Manzini (TT) def. Farris Gosea / Ross Guignon (ILL), 8-6
Roy Kalmanovich / Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) def. Francisco Zambon / Raphael Pfister (TT), 8-5
Singles
#24 Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. #19 Alexis Klegou (A&M), 6-4, 6-4
#104 Junior Ore (A&M) def. Bruno Abdelnour (ILL), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
Ross Guignon (ILL) def. Colin Hoover (A&M), 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. #73 Jeremy Efferding (A&M), 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
Jackson Withrow (A&M) def. Farris Gosea (ILL), 6-2, 6-3
Tim Kopinski (ILL) def. Niall Angus (A&M), 6-3, 7-5
Day Two - Friday, Jan. 13
Doubles
Dennis Nevolo / Farris Gosea (ILL) def. Junior Ore / Jackson Withrow (A&M), 9-8 (7-4)
Alexis Klegou / Jordan Szabo (A&M) def. Ross Guignon / Stephen Hoh (ILL), 8-6
Alberto Bautista / Colin Hoover (A&M) def. Bruno Abdelnour / Roy Kalmanovich (ILL), 8-3
Singles
#24 Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. Gabriel Flores (UM), 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
#2 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Omar Aly (UM), 7-6, 6-1
Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) def. Henri Tsukamoto (UM), 6-4, 6-2
Wilfredo Gonzalez (UM) def. Stephen Hoh (ILL), 6-4, 6-3
Diego Soto (UM) def. Tim Kopinski (ILL), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Victor Mauz (UM) def. Ross Guignon (ILL), 6-4, 6-4
Farris Gosea (ILL) def. Mark Schanerman (UM), 3-6, 2-3 (def)
Day Three - Saturday, Jan. 14
Doubles
Dennis Nevolo / Farris Gosea (ILL) def. Omar Aly /Wilfredo Gonzalez (UM), 5-2 (def.)
Gabriel Flores / Diego Soto (UM) def. Roy Kalmanovich / Stephen Hoh (ILL), 8-3
Ross Guignon / Tim Kopinski (ILL) def. Victor Mauz / Santiago Nieto (UM), 8-6
Singles
#24 Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. Gonzalo Escobar (TT), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
#2 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Rafael Garcia (TT), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
Francisco Zambon (TT) def. Tim Kopinski (ILL), 1-6, 6-1, 6-3
Vitor Manzini (TT) def. Bruno Abdelnour (ILL), 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 12-10
Raphael Pfister (TT) def. Ross Guignon (ILL), 6-4, 6-1
Farris Gosea (ILL) def. Opp (TT), 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3
Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Opp (TT), 6-1, 6-2
