Illini Split Saturday Matches

URBANA, Ill. -  Illinois men's tennis went 1-1 at home today against Duke and Northern Kentucky. The Illini swept Northern Kentucky 5-0 after winning the doubles point. Alex Brown and Gabrieliues Guzauskas defeated Knott/Ponomayor 6-0 on court three before Siphosothando Montis and Olivier Stuart won 6-2 on court 2.

"We aren't quite where we want to be yet," said head coach Brad Dancer. "Hopefully we can take some of the momentum from today and this win against Northern Kentucky and build on it."

Illinois clinched the match in an hour and 30 against NKU. Guzauskas was the first Illini to win in singles, defeating Casamayor 6-1,6-1. Alex Brown won his second match of the day 6-0,6-1 on court 3 against Berry. Alex Petrov clinched the match on 6. He defeated Knott 6-01,6-1. Hunter Heck finished his match point simultaneously on Court 4, he defeated Ponomarew 6-5,6-1.

Illinois fell to Duke in the first math of the day. The Blue Devils earned the doubles point with wins on courts 2 and 3. Hunter Heck and Lucas Horve defeated Sculley/Johns 6-4on court 1. In singles the Illini won two matches on court 3 and 4. Heck defeated Vallabhaneni in straight sets 6-2,6-2 and Alex Brown battled back to beat C. Krug 1-6,7-5,6-3. Guell clinched the match for Duke on court 6, defeating Horve 6-3,3-6, 6-1.

Results

Illinois 2 Duke 4

Doubles
1. Lucas Horve/Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Sean Sculley/Garrett Johns (DU) 6-4
2. Andrew Zhang/Connor Krug (DU) def. Siphosothando Montsi/Olivier Stuart (ILL) 7-5
3. Faris Khan/Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) def. Alex Brown/Gabrielus Guzauskas (ILL) 6-3

Singles
1. Garrett Johns (DU) def. #63 Olivier Stuart (ILL) 6-2, 7-6 (6-2)
2. Siphosothando Montsi (ILL) vs. #103 Andrew Zhang (DU) 6-4, 3-6, 4-3, unfinished
3. Alex Brown (ILL) def. Connor Krug (DU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
4. Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Andrew Dale (DU) def. Gabrielus Guzauskas (ILL) 6-4, 6-4
6. Edu Guell (DU) def. Lucas Horve (ILL) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1*

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

Illinois 4 Northern Kentucky 0

Doubles
1. #59 Lucas Horve/Hunter Heck (ILL) vs. Tom Berry/Jorge Rodriguez (NKU) 3-4, unfinished
2. Siphosothando Montsi/Olivier Stuart (ILL) def. Emilien Burnel/Santiago Casamayor (NKU) 6-2
3. Alex Brown/Gabrielus Guzauskas (ILL) def. Vincent Knott/Brandon Ponomarew (NKU) 6-0

Singles

1. #63 Olivier Stuart (ILL) vs. Emilien Burnel (NKU) 6-2, 2-0, unfinished
2. Siphosothando Montsi (ILL) vs. Jorge Rodriguez (NKU) 7-5, unfinished
3. Alex Brown (ILL) def. Tom Berry (NKU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Brandon Ponomarew (NKU) 6-5,6-1
5. Gabrielus Guzauskas (ILL) def. Santiago Casamayor (NKU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Alex Petrov (ILL) def. Vincent Knott (NKU) 6-0, 6-1*

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,3,6,4) 
Court 4 and 6 finished simultaneously. Court 4 clinched the match.

Up Next

Illinois is back in action tomorrow at noon against UNC at Atkins Tennis Center.