April 1, 2012

Box Score

URBANA, Ill. - The 17th-ranked Fighting Illini men's tennis team (11-3, 5-0 Big Ten) captured its sixth consecutive win with a 4-2 decision over Minnesota (8-5, 3-2) Sunday afternoon at Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex. Senior Dennis Nevolo and freshman Tim Kopinski each won in straight sets, while Ross Guignon clinched the Orange and Blue win in a thrilling three-setter. The six-match winning streak equals Illinois' longest since a 6-0 stretch in 2010.

"It was a great battle for us," Illini head coach Brad Dancer said. "Our two seniors hit some big shots down the stretch in doubles, and that was a game-changing event. Dennis always gets overlooked, but he went out and took care of business the way he needs to in singles. Kopinski also tends to get overlooked, but he did a solid job as well. It was a great moment for Ross, falling apart when he was up 40-love with a chance to clinch but then coming right back and getting it done the second time around."

The Illini secured the doubles point for the first time in three matches, winning at Nos. 1 and 2 after dropping the first completed match on Court 3. Freshman tandem Guignon and Kopinski claimed an 8-4 victory over Jack Hamburg and Eric Frueh at No. 2 to even the doubles score, while 45th-ranked seniors Nevolo and Roy Kalmanovich sealed the point in a 9-7 thriller against No. 22 Rok Bonin and Julian Dehn on Court 1, marking the third win over a ranked pair this season for the Illini duo.

In singles action, Kopinski led off with a swift 6-3, 6-4 win over Hamburg at the No. 5 spot, while fourth-ranked Nevolo cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Bonin on Court 1 for his team-leading 23rd win of the season and 10th in dual play, tying Kopinski for a team high. The Illini stumbled in the following two decisions, however, taking losses at Nos. 2 and 4.

In the final completed match of the day, Guignon climbed back after dropping his first set and clinched the team victory in a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 battle with Michael Sicora on Court 6. Junior Stephen Hoh held a 5-2 lead in a third-set tiebreaker on Court 3 when the dual match ended.

The Illini will return to action next weekend to wrap up a five-match homestand, hosting a pair of Big Ten rivals at Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex. The Orange and Blue will battle Michigan on Friday, April 6 at 3 p.m. and Michigan State on Saturday, April 7 at 1 p.m.

Singles
1. #4 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Rok Bonin (MINN) 6-2, 6-1
2. #80 Leandro Toledo (MINN) def. #31 Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) 6-4, 5-7, 6-0
3. Stephen Hoh (ILL) vs. Phillip Arndt (MINN) 2-6, 6-3, 6-6 (5-2), unfinished
4. Julian Dehn (MINN) def. Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) 6-4, 6-4
5. Tim Kopinski (ILL) def. Jack Hamburg (MINN) 6-3, 6-4
6. Ross Guignon (ILL) def. Michael Sicora (MINN) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

Doubles
1. #45 Dennis Nevolo/Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. #22 Rok Bonin/Julian Dehn (MINN) 9-7
2. Tim Kopinski/Ross Guignon (ILL) def. Jack Hamburg/Eric Frueh (MINN) 8-4
3. Leandro Toledo/Juan Pablo Ramirez (MINN) def. Stephen Hoh/Farris Gosea (ILL) 8-6

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