March 16, 2014
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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - The sixth ranked Illini men's tennis team played its third match in a 48 hour span Sunday morning, this time out in Indian Wells, Calif. vs. 12th-ranked Baylor. The Bears came out strong in singles competition, shutting out Illinois 4-0. It marked the first shutout loss for the Orange and Blue this season and their first loss since Feb. 16. As a result, Illinois moves to 11-5 overall.
Baylor and Illinois played via the College MatchDay format, playing singles first. The Bears utilized its five ranked singles players to earn victories on courts one, two, four and five.
No. 97 Tony Lupieri struck first, defeating Alex Jesse 6-1, 6-2 in No. 5 singles. No. 104 Michael Dornbusch struck next, downing Ross Guignon 7-5, 6-0. No. 42 Tim Kopinski also fell in straight sets, losing 6-4, 6-3 to No. 15 Patrick Pradella.
Baylor's Julian Lenz then sealed the victory for the Bears. The eighth ranked singles player stopped No. 17 Farris Gosea's win streak at five with a 6-1, 7-6(5) victory.
Julian Childers' and Blake Bazarnik's matches went unfinished, as both Illini were on the cusp of preventing the shutout. Bazarnik was up 6-4, 4-6, 5-2 when the match was called while Childers was up 7-5, 1-6, 2-1.
Up next, the Illini will play their third doubleheader of the season on Sunday, March 23. First up, Illinois will battle Ball State at 8 a.m. CT, then resume Big Ten play against Indiana at Noon. Both matches will be played in Bloomington, Ind.
Illini Results
Singles
No. 1 -- #8 Julian Lenz (BU) def. #17 Farris Gosea (ILL), 6-1, 7-6(5)
No. 2 -- #15 Patrick Pradella (BU) def. #42 Tim Kopinski (ILL), 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 -- Blake Bazarnik (ILL) vs. #31 Diego Galeano (BU), 6-4, 4-6, 5-2, unfinished
No. 4 -- #104 Michel Dornbusch (BU) def. Ross Guignon (ILL), 7-5, 6-0
No. 5 -- #97 Tony Lupieri (BU) def. Alex Jesse (ILL), 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 -- Julian Childers (ILL) vs. Mate Zsiga (BU), 7-5, 1-6, 2-1, unfinished
