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Ryler DeHeart - Big Ten Conference Player of the Week
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Jan. 18, 2006
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Seventh-ranked Ryler DeHeart was perfect in the four-day Mexico Invitational in Manzanillo, Mexico, winning all four of his singles matches and five doubles contests with three different partners. The 2005 Big Ten Player of the Year, is making an early push for a repeat as he claimed straight-set singles victories against California-Berkeley and Georgia Tech to improve to 14-2 on the year. The Tampa, Fla. native teamed with freshman Marc Spicijaric for three doubles wins on the first day of competition, and played alongside sophomores Ruben Gonzales and Ryan Rowe for two doubles victories on day three.
This marks DeHeart's third career Athlete of the Week selection. He is the first Illini player to claim the weekly honor since GD Jones on March 31, 2005.
DeHeart owns a career singles record of 113-30 which ranks sixth on the Illinois all-time singles win list. He needs only 11 more wins to break Michael Calkins (2000-04) record.
