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Illinois head coach Brad Dancer
On his overall team play:
"We were confident going into Xavier, but at the same time, we've had times this year where we just haven't been that efficient. Today was a good model for what we're trying to do. What showed today waht we'd hope to show. I think we prepared really well and the guys are extremely focused. I think that want it very badly. It still means anything can happen and in any match you can be out of it just like that, but I think our guys are prepared and hungry."
On getting it over quickly:
"It's not something I usually discuss with the team, but I know in the back of my mind that you don't want your guys out there for four or five hours if they don't have to be."
Illinois' Marc Spicijaric
"I thought we did a good job of staying focused throughout the match. I think we were really ready to start NCAAs. It had been two weeks since Big Tens. Getting a quick start is really important to us for tomorrow and hopefully heading into Tulsa."
Illinois' Billy Heiser
On winning quickly:
"It feels good to be out of there quick. We've been pushing really hard the last two weeks so our legs are a little fatigued. It was important to get this one over early and keep us fresh for tomorrow because we will need all the energy we can get."
On what was working in his game:
"I was hitting my forehand well. I know when I can do that, I can control the point. I was just trying to hit my forehand early in the point and once I get that forehand, I can keep hitting it."
Xavier head coach Eric Toth
On the season overall:"It was a fantastic season. To be the first Xavier team to make it as a team to this event is something to hang our hats on. We have a veteran team coming back and this is something we can take into next season. This should inspire everyone to do the right things on and off the court to get back in this position again. This has been a great experience."
On facing Illinois:
"The reality of the Atlantic Ten champion is you're going to be playing one of the elite teams in college tennis. That's not something we don't get an every day look at. It is really an eye opener. Illinois is an elite team in college tennis and a contender to win it all. The quality of play is a step up because of the constant pressure they put on you."
On his team's competitiveness:
"I told them in our pre-match discussions that we needed to do a good job of keeping it even in the first four games. I thought once we got our feet wet, I truly believed we'd be right in there. When we did that, we were right there. Heiser and Spicijaric really took it to us, but I thought in the other courts, we were competitive."
