Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois closed its 2022-23 home schedule in style on Sunday afternoon, taking down Nebraska, 4-2, on Senior Day at Atkins Tennis Center.
"First off, I would like to extend a thank you to our staff," head coach Brad Dancer said. "It takes a massive undertaking and a lot of people to make the experience special for our student athletes and fans. We closed a chapter today, so thank you to everyone who made this season a good experience for everyone."
"I'm really happy for our guys to close out the last home match with a win. Nebraska is an impressive team and very tough. Though we won what was on the scoreboard, they won the other categories off the court which we need to improve on moving forward."
The Illini finished their home slate with a 9-1 home record and improved to 17-9 overall and 5-2 in conference action.
Illinois secured an early advantage in doubles play, winning on courts one and three to jump out to a 1-0 lead. The Illini's No. 50-ranked doubles pairing of Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins set the tone with a 6-2 victory on court one over Nebraska duo William Gleason and Leo Linquet.Â
Looking to secure the doubles point for the second straight match, Gabrielius Guzauskas and William Mroz finished the job with a 6-1 decision on court three over the Cornhusker tandem of Roni Hietaranta and Shunya Maruyama. Mathis Debru and Oliver Okonkwo's match on court two was knotted at 3-3 but went unfinished.
With the Illini up 1-0 heading into singles play, No. 46 Ozolins finished off his perfect weekend with a dominant display on court one, taking down Roni Hietaranta in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, to double the Illinois lead.Â
After Nebraska cut its deficit in half with a win on court four, No. 88 Alex Petrov picked up his third consecutive singles win with a 6-4, 6-3 decision on court three, putting Illinois within one point of victory.
The Cornhuskers registered their second point of the day with a win on court two, but it was not enough. Okonkwo fought back after losing his first set, winning the next two sets to clinch the match on court five in the Illini's final home contest of the year.
For Senior Day, Illinois honored its lone departing senior, Nic Meister, who will leave the program at the conclusion of the campaign after spending three seasons representing the Orange and Blue. The Illini also honored Volunteer Coach, Jayman Jhattu who is a graduate student.Â
"Lastly, it was really special ceremony before the match for Nic," Dancer said "He is someone who bleeds Orange and Blue and diehard fan across the board. We are privileged to have him and how he represents program."
Up Next
Illinois will play its final two matches of the regular season away from home, taking on Michigan State in East Lansing on Friday at 5 p.m. CT and No. 6 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT.
Results
Doubles competition
1. No. 50 Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. William Gleason/Leo Linquet (NEB), 6-2
2. No. 52 Mathis Debru/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) vs. Calvin Mueller/Lars Johann (NEB), 3-3 unfinished
3. Gabrielius Guzauskas/William Mroz (ILL) def. Roni Hietaranta/Shunya Maruyama (NEB), 6-1
Singles competition
1. No. 46 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Roni Hietaranta (NEB), 6-1, 6-1
2. Leo Linquet (NEB) def. Hunter Heck (ILL), 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
3. No. 88 Alex Petrov (ILL) def. Shunya Maruyama (NEB), 6-4, 6-3
4. Lars Johann (NEB) def. William Mroz (ILL), 6-4, 6-3
5. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. William Gleason (NEB), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
6. Nic Meister (ILL) vs. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB), 6-3, 6-7, 4-1 unfinished
Order of finish
Doubles play: 1, 3
Singles play: 1, 4, 3, 2, 5
