Individually, Lucas Horve and Oliver Okonkwo could not be more different. Horve is from central Illinois; Okonkwo is Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. Horve is 5'10"; Okonkwo is 6'3". Okonkwo can go on an emotional roller coaster; Horve is there to ride those waves and provide support and affirmation.
Yet, despite their differences, their connection on the court is seamless. OK, maybe not all the time. They might run into each other every so often, and the occasional errant serve might hit the other in the back of the head. They are getting there, though. They only started playing as a doubles pairing this fall, after all.
They have hit the ground running, though, as they both enter their respective sixth and final seasons in college with the Fighting Illini men's tennis program.
"We were always individuals who knew that if we got paired up together, we'd work well together," Horve said. "We finally got our chance this fall, and it's been working really well. I've watched Ollie play, and I always knew he would complement my doubles game very well. Getting the chance this fall was great because what I envisioned in my head came true."
While they may have their differences, their styles of play complement each other perfectly. Okonkwo is a big hitter whose serves and forehands often draw a weak ball back, while Horve is nimble and quick and cleans things up at the net.
As the two oldest guys on the team, the pair has bonded over their age and experience, which has strengthened their chemistry both on and off the court.
"We joke about it, but we do see each other as the old men of our team, and it's something we really bonded on," Okonkwo said. "We know what each other is going through. Obviously, we're good friends as well. My game complements his, and his game complements mine, so I think it works pretty well."
Horve calls Okonkwo "one of the best players and one of the best doubles players in the country," as the England native's elite serve game frequently puts opponents on their back foot. Okonkwo's ability to be a force at the baseline sets him apart from other doubles players Horve has competed with, and he is thankful to "have him on my side."
Returning the favor, Okonkwo praised Horve's presence at the net, saying he has "never played with anybody who moves as well as he does at the net." Horve's calmness on the court also sets him apart, Okonkwo says, which can help translate onto him.
Both Horve and Okonkwo have taken on leadership roles for the Illini this season on a team hungry to build on last year's fourth-place finish in Big Ten play, and that mindset starts with the team's two most experienced members. With a majority of the squad living in apartments located within 10 feet of each other, the group is incredibly close and connected, and Horve and Okonkwo have worked to instill a strong energy and mentality.
"If we focus on having great energy at every practice, it is contagious for the rest of the guys on the team," Okonkwo said. "They see us doing it, and they're like, 'OK, these are the older guys on the team doing that, so we should probably step up and do that.' Age is a big thing, and it's a big responsibility, which I've really realized in the last couple months here."
Horve has been with the Illinois program for six years, and he won a Big Ten title as a redshirt freshman in 2021. Throughout his time in college, he says his mental strength and toughness have been the biggest areas of growth, and he has seen even more development since teaming up with Okonkwo this fall.
Wanting to leave with some hardware, Horve says it has not quite sunk in that this is his last season at Illinois, though he wants to be remembered for being a role model and leader for his teammates, especially after learning those same leadership qualities from past players.
"There's been a chip on our shoulder this year. Leaving with a Big Ten championship is something that we all dream of, and there would be no better way to wrap up the book than having a ring our fingers," Horve said. "I want to keep that Illini tradition, that Illini way, and the Illini mentality alive for the younger guys on our team, so they can pass it on to their younger classmen as well."
Having spent four years at Iowa, Okonkwo has found another home in Champaign. With the hopes of going pro after the spring season, he wants to leave a legacy at Illinois, even if he only spent two years representing the Orange and Blue.
"I didn't think I would call another place home, and I've been completely taken by the fact that the team is a great group of guys. It's like an extended family," Okonkwo said. "That's one thing I didn't think I would be as sad thinking about the last year of college. Thinking about this being my last year here is kind of sad. These guys are really good. I think the only thing I really want to leave behind is that role model figure of what an older guy on the team should should be.Â
"To go out and win a championship would be nice. I think with the group of guys we have, the talent we have on the team, we're more than capable of doing it. I think there are big things to come this season."
