CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 24 Fighting Illini men’s tennis (19-11) will face Arizona State (13-11) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 10 a.m. CT at the Beren Tennis Center.
No. 11-seed Harvard will take on Siena on Friday at 1 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION – Arizona State
Head coach Matt Hill has been at the helm since 2016 has been named American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three times prior to his time with the Sun Devils.
Sophomore Murphy Cassone is the only Sun Devil in the ITA Singles Rankings coming in at No. 42. Cassone is 17-6 on the year and plays in the No. 1 singles spot. The Overland Park, Kan. native, did not play against Illinois in January.
Junior Jacob Bullard also has a notable record, going 19-15 overall and primarily playing in the No. 3 singles spot. The Texas transfer did play against Illinois in the Hidden Dual, losing to Karlis Ozolins 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5 in singles and falling to Oliver Okonkwo and Mathis Debru, 6-2, with doubles partner Roi Ginat.
History
Illinois is making its 26th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, and its 16th in Dancer’s 18-year tenure as UI head coach.
Illinois owns a 52-24 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Illini won the national championship in 2003, and finished as national runner-up in Dancer’s second season in 2007.
The Illini last competed in the NCAA Tournament in 2021, advancing to the Round of 16.
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