CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 23 Illinois heads north for two in-state battles in the team's final two duals of March. The Fighting Illini are set for a Saturday doubleheader, taking on Northwestern in a conference matchup at 12 p.m. CT in Evanston before playing Chicago State at 5:30 p.m. CT on Chicago's South Side.
With a 10-6 overall record and a 4-2 mark in conference play, the Orange and Blue look to build off their highest-ranked Big Ten win last weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
No. 23 Illinois improved to 6-1 on its home courts this spring with a 4-2 win over USC on Sunday afternoon (March 23) at Atkins Tennis Center.
The Fighting Illini won the doubles point before claiming wins on Courts 1, 2, and 4 in singles action to defeat the Trojans, who entered the contest at No. 26 in the ITA team rankings and were previously undefeated in Big Ten action.
The Illini used victories at No. 1 and 2 doubles to take a 1-0 lead heading into singles play. Overcoming a loss on Court 3, the Illini won the final two matches in progress to secure the doubles point for the fifth time in conference play. Tyler Bowers and Kenta Miyoshi picked up their fourth consecutive triumph at No. 1 doubles, taking down USC's Tristan Bradley and Peter Makk, 6-4. The doubles point ultimately came down to Court 2, where Zach Viiala and William Mroz registered a 7-5 victory to give the Illini a 1-0 edge in the dual.
Viiala doubled the Orange and Blue's advantage with a straight-set decision against Matteo Morazzi at No. 4 singles. The Trojans picked up a win at No. 6 to cut their deficit in half before William Mroz claimed a straight-set victory on Court 2 over No. 108 Nathan Trouve for his third ranked triumph of the spring.
USC found an answer at No. 5 singles, but Illinois clinched with Miyoshi's win on Court 1, defeating No. 30 Peter Makk for his fifth ranked victory in dual play and his highest-ranked triumph this spring.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN, CHICAGO STATE
Northwestern enters the weekend at 10-10 overall and with a 3-3 record in Big Ten play. During their conference schedule, the Wildcats have posted wins over Wisconsin, Indiana, and Purdue while falling to Nebraska, USC, and UCLA.
Saturday's hosts have faced two top-25 opponents this season, with Northwestern falling to No. 7 Duke, 4-0, and No. 24 Harvard, 5-2. The Wildcats are 8-6 on their home courts during their spring slate, though they are looking to snap a three-match home skid and win their first home dual since March 7.
Currently sitting at No. 65 in the ITA team rankings, the Wildcats do not feature any ranked singles or doubles players.
Chicago State holds a 1-5 mark this season and heads into the weekend on a four-match losing streak. The Cougars, who play in the Horizon League, are 0-3 in conference action ahead of their dual against Youngstown State on Saturday morning.
In its most recent duals, Chicago State suffered back-to-back 7-0 losses at Northern Kentucky on March 16.
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois holds a 72-40-2 advantage in the all-time series against Northwestern, dating back to the programs' first dual in 1914. The Illini won the most recent meeting last season, a 7-0 sweep on April 13, though the Wildcats secured a 4-3 loss in the Orange and Blue's last trip to Evanston.
Saturday marks Illinois' third contest against Chicago State, with the Illini possessing a 2-0 edge in the series. After the programs met for the first time in 2020, this weekend's match marks the first matchup between the Illini and the Cougars since the 2021-22 season. Illinois has recorded 4-0 sweeps in each of the previous two meetings.
DANCER EARNS CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH 2031
Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman has announced a contract extension for longtime Fighting Illini men's tennis head coach Brad Dancer. 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 384-180 overall and 159-40 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 TOP-25 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. 23: Illinois
- No. 65: Northwestern
Singles
Doubles
