CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Four Fighting Illini men's tennis student-athletes have earned Academic All-District distinction from College Sports Communicators, the association announced on Tuesday.
Kenta Miyoshi earned CSC Academic All-District status for the second consecutive season, while Mathis Debru, Zach Viiala, and Jeremy Zhang are all first-time CSC Academic All-District honorees.
To be eligible for the award, a nominee must have a 3.50 GPA and be at least a sophomore academically and athletically. Nominees must also be a starter or an important reserve to the team and have participated in at least 70% of total matches that include team scores.
Debru, a senior who played his third campaign with the Illini during the 2024-25 season, is on track to graduate with a bachelor's degree in agricultural and consumer economics. Now in his third year at Illinois, Miyoshi is working toward a bachelor's degree in strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Viiala is currently undeclared, while Zhang is a sophomore majoring in finance.
In his final season representing the Orange and Blue, Debru posted a 17-11 singles record while registering 14 singles wins during dual play, which ranked second on the team. Totaling 14 doubles victories throughout his senior campaign, the Grenoble, France, native clinched the Illini's 5-2 win over No. 12 Michigan on Feb. 22.
Miyoshi was named the 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year and earned unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors during his standout junior campaign. A native of Kawasaki, Japan, Miyoshi amassed a team-high and career-most 30 singles wins, 20 of which came against ranked opposition. He also added 14 doubles triumphs during the 2024-25 slate while going 6-4 on the doubles courts during conference play.
A native of Perth, Australia, Viiala finished his redshirt freshman campaign with an 18-13 singles record, going 9-9 in duals and 5-5 against Big Ten foes. Climbing into the ITA doubles rankings for the first time in his career, Viiala tallied 16 doubles wins, six of which occurred against conference opposition.
Zhang concluded his sophomore season with 11 singles wins and 15 doubles victories. The Sydney, Australia, native collected the fourth-most doubles triumphs in his second year with the Fighting Illini.
Illinois finished the 2024-25 season with a 15-12 record, advancing to the quarterfinals in the Big Ten Tournament and earning a berth in the NCAA Team Tournament.
