CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 20 Illinois travels east to the Hoosier State for its first Big Ten road matches of the season. Holding a 2-0 record in conference play, the Illini will take on Purdue on Friday at 4 p.m. CT before facing off with Indiana on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
The Orange and Blue enter the weekend with an 8-4 record and a 1-4 mark away from home, though all four defeats have come at the hands of teams ranked in the top 20 of the ITA rankings. The Illini look to snap a two-match skid in road contests, with their last away win dating back to Feb. 1 at North Carolina.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 20 Illinois improved to 2-0 in Big Ten play with a dominant 7-0 sweep against Wisconsin at Atkins Tennis Center on Sunday, March 9.
Improving to 5-0 on their home courts this season, the Fighting Illini took the doubles point before winning all six singles matches in straight sets against the Badgers.
The Illini won the doubles point for the second consecutive match behind victories on Courts 2 and 3. Mathis Debru and Jeremy Zhang were the first to finish, posting a 6-2 decision over Wisconsin's Edouard Aubert/Matthew Fullerton at No. 3 doubles. William Mroz and Zach Viiala ultimately sealed a 7-6(5) triumph on Court 2 to claim their match and secure the doubles point for the home side.
Illinois recorded straight-set singles victories on all six courts, with Kenta Miyoshi serving as the clinch at No. 1 singles.
ABOUT PURDUE, INDIANA
Purdue enters Friday's dual with an 8-3 record and an 0-2 mark in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers began their conference schedule with road losses against USC, 6-1, and UCLA, 7-0.
Currently undefeated on its home courts this season, Purdue sits at 8-0 at Schwartz Tennis Center this spring. The Boilermakers, who are No. 60 in the ITA team rankings, do not have any singles or doubles players in the most recent ITA individual rankings.
After starting the season 9-0, Indiana has since dropped its last four contests and is 9-4 with an 0-2 record in conference play. The Hoosiers began its Big Ten slate with two road losses on the West Coast, falling to UCLA, 7-0, and USC, 6-1.
Indiana has also found success at home thus far this season, posting an 8-1 record at the IU Tennis Center. Looking to snap its four-match skid and pick up their first win since Feb. 16, the Hoosiers host Northwestern on Friday before welcoming the Illini on Sunday.
Ranked No. 51 as a team, IU does not feature any players in the ITA singles rankings, while Facundo Yunis and Jip van Assendelft come in at No. 9 on the national doubles list.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois has dominated the all-time series against Purdue, as the Orange and Blue are 108-11-1 against the Boilermakers. Since the teams' first meeting in 1905, the Illini have lost only seven times when playing at Purdue, while Illinois has lost only once to the Boilermakers over the last 30 years.
In a series that dates back to 1932, Illinois holds the edge over Indiana, 55-46, with the Illini winning each of the last 13 meetings between the sides. The Illini have won the last five duals at Indiana, with the Hoosiers' last victory dating back to 2012.
DANCER EARNS CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH 2031
Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced Wednesday a contract extension for longtime Fighting Illini men's tennis head coach Brad Dancer, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its March 20 meeting. The new agreement keeps Dancer on contract through the 2030-31 season.
"Brad Dancer is a trusted, veteran leader in our athletics department and one of the most accomplished coaches throughout all of collegiate tennis, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership through the next six years as he continues to lead a championship caliber men's tennis program," Whitman said. "Brad is a relentless competitor who inspires his athletes and is committed to their development both on and off the court. Despite decades of success, he is never complacent, exhausting every avenue each day to push his team to new heights. We are grateful to Brad and his family for becoming ingrained into the fabric of the University of Illinois community, and we look forward to many more successful years for Fighting Illini Men's Tennis."
Currently in his 20th season as head coach and 21st campaign overall at Illinois, Dancer has guided the Orange and Blue to 17 NCAA Tournament berths, 11 Sweet 16 appearances, three Big Ten Tournament titles, and two Big Ten regular-season conference championships, building on the program's longstanding winning tradition.
Since taking over as head coach on June 28, 2005, Dancer has become the Illinois men's tennis program's all-time winningest coach while currently ranking as the eighth-winningest coach in Big Ten history. A two-time ITA Regional Coach of the Year, Dancer has coached 28 All-Americans, 42 All-Big Ten honorees, four Big Ten Players of the Year, and two Big Ten Freshmen of the Year during his tenure with the Orange and Blue.
Dancer holds a record of 382-178 overall and 157-38 in Big Ten play during his time at the helm of the Fighting Illini, with his overall wins and conference victories both ranking first in program history.
ILLINI EARN FIRST RANKED WIN OF SEASON, DEFEAT NO. 12 MICHIGAN
No. 20 Illinois recorded its first ranked win of the spring with a 5-2 victory over No. 12 Michigan at Atkins Tennis Center on Feb. 22.
Despite dropping the first set on five singles courts, the Illini fought back to win four singles matches while claiming the doubles point for the second time this season.
Illinois secured the doubles point behind wins at No. 2 and 3. Mathis Debru and Max Mroz, teaming up for the first time this spring, were the first to finish and earned a 6-2 victory at No. 3 doubles. Kenta Miyoshi and William Mroz were not far behind at No. 2 doubles, posting a 6-4 win to take the doubles point for the Illini.
Miyoshi recorded the team's first singles win of the night with a 7-6(4), 6-3 triumph at No. 1 against No. 55 Benjamin Kittay, marking the Illini junior's third ranked win of the dual season.
Zach Viiala was the next to finish with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 6 singles, and Debru ultimately clinched the Orange and Blue's win with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory on Court 5. With the sides agreeing to play out the match, Will Mroz closed the night with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 triumph at No. 2 singles and completed the 5-2 ranked win.
MIYOSHI EARNS ITA SINGLES ALL-AMERICAN STATUS
Illinois junior Kenta Miyoshi earned ITA All-America status during his first-ever appearance at the NCAA Singles Championship, advancing to the singles third round at Baylor's Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas. Miyoshi represented the Fighting Illini men's tennis program at the event, which moved from the spring to the fall for the first time.
Miyoshi picked up two straight-set ranked wins en route to securing Singles All-America honors for the first time in his career before falling in the third round on Nov. 19.
TEAMS/PLAYERS IN THE ITA RANKINGS
Team
- No. 20: Illinois
- No. 51: Indiana
- No. 60: Purdue
Singles
Doubles
- No. 9: Facundo Yunis/Jip van Assendelft (Indiana)
