Box Score EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 25-ranked Fighting Illini men's tennis (18-9, 6-2 B1G) blanked Michigan State (11-11, 4-4 B1G) , 6-1, Friday evening at the Michigan State Outdoor Tennis Center.Â
"Michigan State is a young well coached team," assistant coach Tim Kopinski said. "Our guys did a good job handling that challenge today. Mathis Debru was fantastic down the stretch in doubles so props to him."
Doubles started off shaky with Gabrielius Guzauskas and Kenta Miyoshi dropping their match, 6-3, to Graydon Lair and Max Sheldon. However, No. 33 doubles pair Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins picked up a 6-4 victory over Ozan Baris and Anthony Pero to even it out.Â
No. 55 Mathis Debru and Oliver Okonkwo clinched the doubles point for the Illini with a 7-6 (9) win against Reed Crocker and Kazuki Matsuno.Â
Nic Meister finished quickly, losing 6-3, 6-1, to David Saye. However, Miyoshi earned a point back for the Illini with his  6-0, 6-2 victory over Josh Portnoy.Â
Heck followed suit, beating Sheldon 6-3, 6-2, while Alex Petrov clinched the match by defeating Luke Baylis, 6-2, 6-3.
With Ozolins and Okonkwo in third sets, both head coaches decided to play out the match with Okonkwo defeating Pero, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 and Ozolins winning 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2) over Baris.Â
Up NextÂ
The Illini will travel to Ann Arbor to face No. 7 Michigan Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.Â
ResultsÂ
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Doubles competition
1. #36 Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Ozan Baris/Anthony Pero (MSUM) 6-4
2. #55 Mathis Debru/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Reed Crocker/Kazuki Matsuno (MSUM) 7-6 (11-9)
3. Graydon Lair/Max Sheldon (MSUM) def. Gabrielius Guzauskas/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 6-3
Singles competition
1. #48 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. #41 Ozan Baris (MSUM) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Max Sheldon (MSUM) 6-3, 6-2
3. #90 Alex Petrov (ILL) def. Luke Baylis (MSUM) 6-2, 6-3
4. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Anthony Pero (MSUM) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
5. Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Josh Portnoy (MSUM) 6-0, 6-2
6. David Saye (MSUM) def. Nic Meister (ILL) 6-3, 6-1
