CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois men’s tennis team swept Notre Dame, 7-0, in a monster win Saturday night at Atkins Tennis Center.
This is the first 7-0 win since March 28, 2021 when the Illini defeated Michigan State at home.
“One step at a time,” head coach Brad Dancer said. “We talked about building and how we needed to take some steps forward this weekend and no question – we did. Everyone has their issues that we’re not doing great things across the board, but we’re getting tougher and grittier. We’re responding better. How you respond to a certain situation is a big thing in tennis and in life. We had some outstanding performances and The Boa Constrictor (Hunter Heck) got after it tonight and, when he leads us, we’re so good.”
Lucas Horve and Gabrielius Guzauskas, once again, took the first doubles point for the Illini with a 6-2 win over Matt Halpin and Evan Lee. Mathis Debru and Oliver Okonkwo went on to lose their match against Sebastian Dominko and Connor Fu, 7-5, to leave the deciding point up to the third match.
Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins responded quickly with a 6-4 win over Matt Che and Yu Zhang, giving the doubles point to the Illini.
Heck went on to make quick work of Notre Dame’s Addy Vashista, 6-0, 6-0, and the Illini didn’t look back.
Ozolins was next to finish, beating Che, 6-0, 6-3, before Meister defeated Jameson Corsillo, 6-3, 6-1.
Okonkwo was the last Illini to work a two-set win, beating Zhang, 6-3, 6-4.
Alex Petrov and William Mroz had to work hard for their wins – Petrov beat Dominko 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 while Mroz beat Fu 7-5, 6-7 (2), 10-6
Illinois will head to Chicago, Ill. to compete with No. 13 Georgia on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m., prior to the ITA National Indoor Championships.
Results
Singles competition
1. Alex Petrov (ILL) def. Sebastian Dominko (ND) 6-3, 2-6, 10-8
2. Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Matt Che (ND) 6-0, 6-3
3. Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Addy Vashista (ND) 6-0, 6-0
4. William Mroz (ILL) def. Connor Fu (ND) 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 1-0 (10-6)
5. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Yu Zhang (ND) 6-3, 6-4
6. Nic Meister (ILL) def. Jameson Corsillo (ND) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Sebastian Dominko/Connor Fu (ND) def. Mathis Debru/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 7-5
2. Karlis Ozolins/Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Matt Che/Yu Zhang (ND) 6-4
3. Lucas Horve/Gabrielius Guzauskas (ILL) def….
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