CHICAGO, Ill. – The Illinois men's tennis team finished out the ITA National Indoor Tournament with a 4-1 loss to No. 12 Tennessee on Sunday in Chicago, Ill. at the XS Tennis Center.
"Really a disappointing end to a challenging week for us," head coach Brad Dancer said. "I think with this new squad, we're starting to show that we have some talent. We have some fun guys and a really enjoyable team to watch, which is such a treat. We're exactly where we're supposed to be, which is to play with teams and make us more elite so we can win a Big Ten Championship and be in that top ten realm. But to be where we want to – we're not quite there yet, we're just right on the cusp of it. I love this team and I love the direction we can be headed. We just got to get a smidgen sharper, focused and grittier and do some things when we may not want to."
Mathis Debru and Oliver Okonkwo started doubles with a 6-3 loss to Pat Harper and Johannus Monday. Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins also lost, 6-3, to Shunsuke Mitsui and Emile Hudd. Kenta Miyoshi and Gabrielius Guzauskas were ahead 5-3 before the Volunteers clinched the point, leaving the match unfinished.
The first loss to the Illini came when Alex Petrov retired to Johannus Monday. Miyoshi fell quickly after to Angel Diaz, 6-1, 6-1.
Hunter Heck was the lone Illini to pick up a win, defeating Shunsuke Mitsui 6-1, 6-4.
Tennessee clinched the match when Emile Hudd defeated William Mroz, 6-3, 6-2.
"A huge shout out to XS Tennis Village for hosting this championship, we appreciate that partnership," Dancer said. "A big shoutout to all the fans that came out and made this event the spectacle it was. Thanks to our staff who was just amazing all week long -- I can't thank our staff enough for all the incredible hours, time, energy and effort they put into this event."
Illinois will have three weeks off to prepare for a road trip to Texas where they will first play UT Arlington at 12 p.m. on March 17 in Waco, Texas before playing No. 10 Baylor and No. 3 TCU.
Results
Singles competition
1. Johannus Monday (TEN) def. Alex Petrov (ILL) retired
2. Karlis Ozolins (ILL) vs. Blake Bicknell (TEN) 6-3, 3-6, 2-1, unfinished
3. Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Shunsuke Mitsui (TEN) 6-1, 6-4
4. Emile Hudd (TEN) def. William Mroz (ILL) 6-3, 6-2
5. Angel Diaz (TEN) def. Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 6-1, 6-1
6. Nic Meister (ILL) vs. Tomas Rodriguez (TEN) 0-6, 5-4, unfinished"
Doubles competition
1. Pat Harper/Johannus Monday (TEN) def. Mathis Debru/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 6-3
2. Shunsuke Mitsui/Emile Hudd (TEN) def. Karlis Ozolins/Hunter Heck (ILL) 6-3
3. Gabrielius Guzauskas/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) vs. Blake Bicknell/Angel Diaz (TEN) 5-3, unfinished
