Champaign, Ill - The No. 8 Fighting Illini are on the road for the first time this season. They head to Madison to take on the 2-1 Badgers on Friday at 3 pm CT.
Next they travel to Minneapolis to face the 0-2 Gophers on Sunday at 12 pm CT. Illinois is looking to bounce back after a tough lost to Ohio State.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Wisconsin (2-1): Illinois is looking for their tenth straight win over Wisconsin on Friday and their second of the 2021 season... They won the last match 6-1 in Champaign in Feb... After the first weekend of Big Ten play Wisconsin is 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten
Minnesota (0-2): Illinois has won two straight against Minnesota and is 38-34 in the all-time series... Minnesota is 0-2 so far this season after dropping matches against Michigan State and No. 15 Michigan.
LAST TIME OUT
Illinois defeated Penn State on Friday night 5-2. The Illini picked up the doubles point and singles wins from Zeke Clark and Hunter Heck. Alex Bancila clinched the match, defeating Sam Bossem on in straight sets (6-2,6-2). Siphos Montsi grabbed a fifth point, defeating Bora Sengal on Court 2.
Illinois fell 4-1 to No. 9 Ohio State on Sunday. Aleks Kovacevic got the Illini on the board with a 6-4, 6-3 win over John McNally. OSU's Robert Cash clinched the match on Court 6, 7-5, 7-5 over Kweisi Kenyatte.
IN THE RANKINGS
Illinois enters the second weekend of Big Ten competition at No. 8 in the ITA Coaches Poll.
They started their season unranked but receiving votes. After a strong performance over ITA Championship weekend, they jumped to No.6 in last weeks coaches poll.
Four Illini were ranked the ITA preseason singles rankings. Alex Brown at No. 15, Aleks Kovacevic at No. 35, Siphos Monsti at No. 82 and Zeke Clark at No. 112.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini host Iowa and Nebraska next weekend at Atkins Tennis Center. They face the Hawkeyes on Friday at 5 pm and the Cornhuskers Sunday at noon.
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