April 22, 2007

Results

URBANA, Ill.  ­- The No. 11 Illinois men's tennis team finished the regular season with back-to-back conference wins, taking care of Iowa today, 6-1, at the Atkins Tennis Center. With the efforts, Illinois solidified a tied for second-place finish in the Big Ten regular season, and will head into the Big Ten Tournament on April 27-29 in West Lafayette, Ind., as the third seed.

"We are still licking our wounds from this year and that will continue until we go out and take care of business," head coach Brad Dancer said. "We don't like the position we are in, finishing third in our conference, but we are still looking to win a championship.  We are going to practice hard this week, even with the extra day off, and be well prepared heading into the Big Ten Tournament."

The team took time between doubles and singles to honor lone senior GD Jones in a special Senior Day tribute, reflecting on a tremendous career the Auckland, New Zealand native has had as an Illini, including being named a unanimous All-Big Ten selection and winning a total of 76 singles and 76 doubles matches after today's victories.

"Today is a special day for the Illini tennis family as we honor our lone senior GD Jones," Dancer said. "During the two years that I have been here to coach GD, I have had the opportunity to get to know a very intelligent, strong and competitive individual. I know when we look down the road in 10, 15 or 20 years, we will always be proud that he has and always will be part of Illinois tennis."

The Illini kicked off doubles with a win by the No. 9-ranked tandem of Kevin Anderson and Ryan Rowe (ILL), who easily handled Bart van Monsjou and J.P. Ritchie (IOWA), 8-3, on court one, before Jones and sophomore Marc Spicijaric closed out a win on court two over Gregory Holm and Walker Grimes (IOWA), 8-6. Anderson and Rowe improved their record to a 16-3 mark, while Spicijaric and Jones added to their team-leading 17-6 mark on the season. Iowa took the win on court three, but it would not matter as the Illini had already claimed the doubles point.

Spicijaric came roaring out of the gates in singles to crush Christian Bierich (IOWA), 6-0, 6-1, in a little under an hour, while the Illini also registered first set wins on courts one, two and four. Iowa rebounded on court six in a straight-sets victory of its own, but Rowe (ILL) would then put the Illini one win from the dual-match victory after taking care of Ritchie (IOWA), 6-0, 6-2, on court two.

Sealing the victory at No. 4 singles, Gonzales posted his second victory in as many matches to improve to 12-5 on the year after taking care of Reinoud Haal (IOWA), 6-3, 6-3.

Rounding out the Illini in the win column were Anderson (ILL), who allowed a total of four games in his win over Monsjou (IOWA), 6-3, 6-1, and Jones (ILL), who despite a sore shoulder went out in style in his final home regular season match as he came back to defeat Tommy McGeorge (IOWA) 3-6, 7-6(3), 10-7.

Illinois next heads to the 2007 Big Ten Tournament hosted by Purdue on Friday, April 27. Brackets will be released early Monday morning to determine who the Illini will face in their opening round contest.

TENNIS MATCH RESULTS

URBANA, Ill.

4/22/2007

#11 ILLINI 6, IOWA 1

Singles competition

1. #6 Kevin Anderson (ILL) def. Bart van Monsjou (IOWA) 6-3, 6-1

2. #19 Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. J.P. Ritchie (IOWA) 6-0, 6-2

3. Marc Spicijaric (ILL) def. Christian Bierich (IOWA) 6-0, 6-1

4. Ruben Gonzales (ILL) def. Reinoud Haal (IOWA) 6-3, 6-3

5. GD Jones (ILL) def. Tommy McGeorge (IOWA) 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-7)

6. Patrick Dwyer (IOWA) def. Jordan Knue (ILL) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. #9 Kevin Anderson/Ryan Rowe (ILL) def. Bart van Monsjou/J.P. Ritchie (IOWA) 8-3

2. Marc Spicijaric/GD Jones (ILL) def. Gregory Holm/Walker Grimes (IOWA) 8-6

3. Reinoud Haal/Christian Bierich (IOWA) def. Ruben Gonzales/Brandon Davis (ILL) 8-4

Match Notes:

Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (3, 6, 2, 4, 1, 5)