CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 19 Fighting Illini men’s tennis took both matches of their doubleheader on Friday with a 5-0 win over Eastern Illinois and a 5-2 win over No. 14 Baylor.
Eastern Illinois
Old doubles pairing Hunter Heck and Lucas Horve started doubles with a swift 6-3 win over Tyler Carlin and Zach White before Karlis Ozolins and Alex Petrov took the doubles point with a 6-0 win over Pau Riera and Thomas Wallace.
Kenta Miyoshi made quick work of Riera, beating him 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 1 spot followed by Mathis Debru taking down Wallace 6-1, 6-2. Tyler Bowers clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-2 win over William Hays, followed very closely by a 6-2, 6-0 Lucas Horve win over White.
Baylor
Doubles started with No. 2-ranked Karlis Ozolins and Hunter Heck knocking down Luc Koenig and Devin Badenhorst, 6-1. Oliver Okonkwo and Lucas Horve clinched the doubles point with a solid 6-4 win over Tadeas Paroulek and Zsombor Velcz.
Okonkwo cruised his way through his singles match with an efficient 6-2, 6-2 win over Koenig. No. 46 Kenta Miyoshi did his job over Louis Bowden, conquering him 6-1, 6-4.
No. 41 Ozolins clinched the match for Illinois after a 6-3, 7-5 win over No. 35 Paroulek.
After the coaches decided to play on, Alex Petrov took his match 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8) over No. 75 Devin Badenhorst.
“We’ve got so much respect for Baylor,” head coach Brad Dancer said. “Their athletes and their coaches – they’re just a great team. In singles, Oliver (Okonkwo) was dialed in just proving the leadership he can provide for himself that translates over to the team. It was great for Karlis (Ozolins) to get the clinch. He deserves it.
Now we have more tremendous opportunities coming this week with No. 1 Ohio State this Wednesday. We’ve done a lot of practicing, now it’s time to compete.”
Next Up
The Illini will take on long-time rival No. 1 Ohio State for a mid-week match on Wednesday, March 6 at 6 p.m. CT at Atkins Tennis Center for the two team’s traditional non-conference dual.
EIU Results
Doubles competition
1. Karlis Ozolins/Alex Petrov (ILL) def. Pau Riera/Thomas Wallace (EIU-M) 6-0
2. Hunter Heck/Lucas Horve (ILL) def. Tyler Carlin/Zach White (EIU-M) 6-3
3. Mathis Debru/Tyler Bowers (ILL) vs. Cameron Slabbert/Jon Karlstad (EIU-M) 5-3, unfinished
Singles competition
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