No. 15 Illini Men’s Tennis Fall to No. 1 Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 15 Fighting Illini men’s tennis lost, 4-1, to No.1 Ohio State Sunday afternoon at the Ty Tucker Tennis Center. 

“We were not prepared,” head coach Brad Dancer said. “That’s on the coaches.”

The match started with No. 47-ranked Andrew Lutschaunig and Justin Boulais defeating No. 4-ranked Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins, 6-3. The Buckeyes clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Mathis Debru and Kenta Miyoshi. 

After three straight Illinois losses, No. 31-ranked Ozolins put the Illini on the board with a 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 25-ranked Boulais. 

Up Next

The Illini will come home to host No. 18 Michigan State on March 30 at 12 p.m. CT before hosting Michigan at 12 p.m. CT on March 31. Both matches will be at Atkins Tennis Center. 

Results  

Doubles competition

1. Robert Cash/Bryce Nakashima (OSU) vs. #46 Lucas Horve/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 4-3, unfinished

2. #47 Andrew Lutschaunig/Justin Boulais (OSU) def. #4 Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 6-3

3. Cannon Kingsley/JJ Tracy (OSU) def. Mathis Debru/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 6-4

Singles competition

1. #31 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. #25 Justin Boulais (OSU) 6-4, 6-3

2. #22 Cannon Kingsley (OSU) def. #47 Hunter Heck (ILL) 6-4, 6-3

3. #19 Jack Anthrop (OSU) def. Alex Petrov (ILL) 6-4, 6-3

4. #12 JJ Tracy (OSU) vs. #83 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 6-3, 5-2, unfinished

5. #99 Alexander Bernard (OSU) def. #116 Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 6-4, 6-2

6….