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TechnographTennis looks for upset of Florida
Illini host No. 3 team this weekend
By Amber Greviskes
Posted: 2/11/05 Section: Sports
Underdogs usually are not confident heading into tough matches, but the Illinois men's tennis team is rarely the underdog in a contest.
On Saturday the team hosts No. 3 Florida at 6 p.m., and Illinois head coach Craig Tiley is confident that his team will play well. In fact, he said, he is feeling better about this match than last weekend's matches when the undefeated Illini took on then-No. 9 Duke and then-No. 34 Texas.
"Whether they can repeat (last weekend's performance) remains to be seen," Tiley said. "The big thing is not what you did the one weekend, but how consistent you can be over the entire semester."
Although Illinois responded well to the pressure last weekend, this match might be more intense. Florida senior Hamid Mirzadeh is a three-time All-American, and other Gators have earned All-American recognition.
But the team's experience does not scare the Illini.
"We know what we're up against," said Illinois junior Ryler DeHeart. "We're not facing anyone that we don't know or anyone new. If anything it might be to our advantage a little bit because we have some new guys and they don't know what they're up against."
Enter Illinois' powerful freshman class.
Freshmen Kevin Anderson, Ryan Rowe and Ruben Gonzales are undefeated in singles this season. Anderson was named Big Ten Player of the Week yesterday for his performance last weekend, which included two singles victories over ranked opponents and a doubles victory over the No. 15 doubles team of Jonathan Stokke and Peter Rodrigues 9-8 (3) from Duke. His doubles victory was especially significant because he and DeHeart had only practiced together once before the Friday night match. Freshman Monte Tucker, who clinched the Illini's victory against Duke last week, will be critical to the team's success. Tucker has a reputation among his teammates and coaches for being cool under pressure.
"We're just going to approach the match the same way and just go out and play," Gonzales said. "You should play the same no matter who you're playing."
On Saturday the team hosts No. 3 Florida at 6 p.m., and Illinois head coach Craig Tiley is confident that his team will play well. In fact, he said, he is feeling better about this match than last weekend's matches when the undefeated Illini took on then-No. 9 Duke and then-No. 34 Texas.
"Whether they can repeat (last weekend's performance) remains to be seen," Tiley said. "The big thing is not what you did the one weekend, but how consistent you can be over the entire semester."
Although Illinois responded well to the pressure last weekend, this match might be more intense. Florida senior Hamid Mirzadeh is a three-time All-American, and other Gators have earned All-American recognition.
But the team's experience does not scare the Illini.
"We know what we're up against," said Illinois junior Ryler DeHeart. "We're not facing anyone that we don't know or anyone new. If anything it might be to our advantage a little bit because we have some new guys and they don't know what they're up against."
Enter Illinois' powerful freshman class.
Freshmen Kevin Anderson, Ryan Rowe and Ruben Gonzales are undefeated in singles this season. Anderson was named Big Ten Player of the Week yesterday for his performance last weekend, which included two singles victories over ranked opponents and a doubles victory over the No. 15 doubles team of Jonathan Stokke and Peter Rodrigues 9-8 (3) from Duke. His doubles victory was especially significant because he and DeHeart had only practiced together once before the Friday night match. Freshman Monte Tucker, who clinched the Illini's victory against Duke last week, will be critical to the team's success. Tucker has a reputation among his teammates and coaches for being cool under pressure.
"We're just going to approach the match the same way and just go out and play," Gonzales said. "You should play the same no matter who you're playing."
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