WACO, Texas – The No. 19 Illinois men's tennis team (12-6) went undefeated on the day with a 4-0 victory over Abilene Christian (8-9) and a 4-2 win over Baylor (8-10) on March 17 in Waco, Texas. 

"These were awesome team wins today," head coach Brad Dancer said. "Coming off a three week layoff, we knew we would have big challenges. Baylor is a very good team, well coached with great players. It was cold windy and our first outdoor match and our guys weathered the storm and kept their composure. I'm excited about the challenge of playing TCU Sunday."

Abilene Christian - 4-0 

The quick victory started with a 6-3 win from Karlis Ozolins and Hunter Heck against Dario Kmet and Cesar Barranquero followed by a 3-6 loss from Kenta Miyoshi and Mathis Debru to Savan Chhabra and Ethan Scribner. Alex Petrov and Oliver Okonkwo, however, clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win over Daniel Morozov and Mihaly Deli. 

In singles action, Heck overpowered Cesar Barranquero,  6-1, 6-1, before Petrov claimed his win, 6-2, 6-3, over Kmet. 

William Mroz clinched the victory for the Illini with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Benjamin McDonald to seal the shutout. 

Baylor,  4-2

Heck and Ozolins started doubles off yet again with a win, defeating Tadeas Paroulek and Zsombor Velcz, 6-3. Okonkwo and Debru followed suit, clinching the doubles point, 6-4, against Luc Koenig and Juampi Mazzuchi. 

Heck was the first Illini to finish, dropping his match 6-2, 7-6 (1) to Velcz before Okonkwo came up with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Koenig. 

Mroz took his victory, 7-6 (7), 6-2, over Mazzuchi before Petrov dropped his match, 6-4, 6-3 against 6-4, 6-3 against Paroulek. 

Ozolins clinched the victory for the Illini in a three set win, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, against Marko Miladinovic. 

Illinois will continue its Texas trip and  face No. 1 Texas Christian at 1 p.m. in Fort Worth, Texas at the Bartzen Varsity Courts. 

ACU Results

Doubles competition

1. Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILLINOIS) def. Dario Kmet/Cesar Barranquero (ACU) 6-3

2. Alex Petrov/Oliver Okonkwo (ILLINOIS) def. Daniel Morozov/Mihaly Deli (ACU) 6-3

3. Savan Chhabra/Ethan Scribner (ACU) def. Kenta Miyoshi/Mathis Debru (ILLINOIS) 6-2

Singles competition

1. Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Dario Kmet (ACU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Daniel Morozov (ACU) vs. Gabrielius Guzauskas (ILL) 6-1, 3-3, unfinished
3. William Mroz (ILL) def. Cesar Barranquero (ACU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Savan Chhabra (ACU) vs. Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 2-6, 1-3, unfinished
5. Nic Meister (ILL) def. Benjamin McDonald (ACU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Mihaly Deli (ACU) vs. Mathis Debru (ILL) 4-6, 1-3, unfinished

Baylor Results

Doubles competition

1. Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Tadeas Paroulek/Zsombor Velcz (BU) 6-3
2. #52 Oliver Okonkwo/Mathis Debru (ILL) def. Luc Koenig/Juampi Mazzuchi (BU) 6-4
3. Christopher Frantzen/Justin Braverman (BU) vs. Kenta Meyoshi/Alex Petrov (ILL) 4-3, unfinished

Singles competition

1. #98 Tadeas Paroulek (BU) def. #96 Alex Petrov (ILL) 6-4, 6-3
2. #42 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Marko Miladinovic (BU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
3. Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. Hunter Heck (ILL) 6-2, 7-6 (7-1)
4. William Mroz (ILL) def. Juampi Mazzuchi (BU) 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
5. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Luc Koenig (BU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Ethan Muza (BU) vs. Nic Meister (ILL) 5-7, 6-1, 2-5, unfinished