OJAI, Calif. – No. 3-seeded Illinois' Big Ten Tournament run came to a close in the semifinals with a 4-3 loss to No. 2-seeded and No. 3-ranked Ohio State on Friday night.
The Fighting Illini picked up straight-set singles wins on Courts 1, 2, and 6, but the Buckeyes claimed the doubles points and singles decisions at No. 3, 4, and 5 to take the win.
The sides battled to a tightly contested doubles point, but Ohio State used triumphs on Courts 2 and 3 to take a 1-0 advantage in the match.
Illinois took four opening sets in singles play and eventually took a 2-1 edge in the dual behind two-set wins at No. 1 and 2. Gabriel Debru was first to finish with his 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 12 Aidan Kim, while Kenta Miyoshi was not far behind with a 6-3, 6-3 effort against No. 29 Jack Anthrop.
The Buckeyes accounted for the match's next two triumphs on Courts 3 and 4 to retake the lead, sending the dual down to No. 5 and 6.
Hayden Jones was next to wrap up a win with a 7-6(2), 6-4 decision over Alexander Bernard at No. 6 singles, leaving Court 5 as the deciding match.
Zach Viiala and No. 118-ranked Bryce Nakashima split the opening two frames, but it was the Buckeye junior who claimed the victory in the third set to send Ohio State to the finals.
RESULTS
Doubles
No. 1: Gabriel Debru/Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) vs. #5 Brandon Carpico/Nikita Filin (Ohio State), 6-6, unfinished
No. 2: #39 Alex Okonkwo/Alexander Bernard (Ohio State) def. #80 Zach Viiala/David Bakonyi (Illinois), 7-5
No. 3: #53 Bryce Nakashima/Jack Anthrop (Ohio State) def. William Mroz/Tyler Bowers (Illinois), 7-6(8)
Order of finish: 2, 3
Singles
No. 1: #28 Gabriel Debru (Illinois) def. #12 Aidan Kim (Ohio State), 6-2, 6-3
No. 2: #16 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) def. #29 Jack Anthrop (Ohio State), 6-3, 6-3
No. 3: #30 Preston Stearns (Ohio State) def. #100 William Mroz (Illinois), 7-5, 6-2
No. 4: #85 Nikita Filin (Ohio State) def. Adam Jilly (Illinois), 6-3, 6-4
No. 5: #118 Bryce Nakashima (Ohio State) def. Zach Viiala (Illinois), 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
No. 6: Hayden Jones (Illinois) def. Alexander Bernard (Ohio State), 7-6(2), 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2, 4, 3, 6, 5
UP NEXT
No. 14 Illinois (22-7) awaits its NCAA Tournament draw ahead of the selection show on Monday afternoon.
