Men’s tennis adds talent
July 19, 2006
After coming up just short in winning their tenth straight Big Ten Conference regular season championship last season, the Illinois men’s tennis team is looking to climb back to the top of Big Ten and they may have just received the boost they need to get there.
On Monday, Illini men’s tennis coach Brad Dancer announced the signing of 2006-07 recruit Billy Heiser to the Illini squad for next fall.
Heiser comes to the Fighting Illini with a large amount of experience at the junior level and is fulfilling a life-long dream by committing to the Orange and Blue.
“Brad (Dancer) and his staff have been talking with me for a couple of years now, so Illinois has always been my top choice,” Heiser said in a press release.
“The academics at Illinois and the tennis tradition are the best combination in the country, so I would not have chosen any other place.”
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Heiser, a native of Vernon Hills, Ill., and son of professional tennis player Bill Sr., was home-schooled by the Laurel Springs School distance learning program.
Throughout his career Heiser has been ranked in the top 15 nationally in every age division, and has been ranked No. 1 in the Midwest throughout high school.
“I am excited about having Billy join us,” Dancer said in the press release. “He is going to excel here at Illinois, it’s going to be great to build part of our program around an Illinois native.”
As a player in the junior ranks, Heiser has made a semifinal appearance in singles at the International Hard Courts Tournament and placed sixth at the USTA National Clay Courts competition. Heiser was also a USTA National Doubles Champion.
Heiser will join the Orange and Blue starting this fall and will join an Illini squad that is expected to be ranked near the top of the college tennis rankings once again.
The Illini finished second in the Big Ten last season to Ohio State and were knocked out of the NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament by UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen.
“The work ethic that the team has is unbelievable and I cannot wait to join to the program,” Heiser said.
