Freshmen came out of the gates strong this weekend as the University of Illinois men’s tennis team competed in the first annual Fighting Illini Invitational in Olympia Fields, Ill.

The invitational included the University of Alabama, the University of Miami and the University of Notre Dame.

Freshman Connor Roth won his first three singles matches of the round-robin-style invitational. Roth prevailed in his first ever match after losing his first set to Alabama’s Sammy Struyf 6-2. Roth won the next two sets 6-2, 6-4 to steal the match.

Roth did the same thing in his next match, defeating the Hurricanes’ J.C. Whitner 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (11-9).

“That shows some maturity, being able to (fight) through the match, pull it out, come from behind,” senior Ryan Rowe said.

Rowe had his hands full at the invitational, facing the stiff competition.

When Rowe, who is ranked ninth nationally, faced Alabama’s Billy Mertz (ranked No. 42), Rowe prevailed 6-2, 6-3.

“It was a good match to start out with,” Rowe said. “I was able to get out to an early start … I handled the conditions well.”

Unfortunately for Rowe, the University of Miami’s Daniel Vallverdu was too much to handle. The No. 19 All-American defeated Rowe 6-3, 6-4.

“(Vallverdu’s) more of a clay court styled player,” Rowe said. “He was able to come there and make more balls and put me in more difficult situations than I was able to put him in, and he just played a little bit better than I did.”

Aside from Rowe’s triumphs and struggles, he was excited that freshmen are now officially experienced.

He was impressed with freshman Abe Souza’s play early. In a singles match, Souza defeated Alabama’s Saketh Myneni 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4.

Doubles were successful for the Illini. Rowe and sophomore Billy Heiser teamed up to defeat Notre Dame’s Sheeva Parbhu and Brett Helgeson 8-4.

Senior Brandon Davis and sophomore Jordan Knue beat the Fighting Irish’s Santiago Montoya and David Anderson 8-5. Also, the Rowe and Davis combination defeated the No. 5-ranked duo of Mathieu Thibaudeau and Dan Buikema 8-5.

Head coach Brad Dancer was not particularly optimistic nor too down about the overall weekend.

“We had good matches and some bad matches but great exposure for some of our freshmen to have all those opportunities, and we look forward to (learning) from the experience and moving on,” Dancer said. “It was a unique experience for our student athletes.”

After the fast start to the weekend, the last day was a difficult one in singles for Illinois. Dancer said Rowe’s shoulder was bothering him, so Rowe only participated in the doubles competition.

The rest of the team lost their singles matches.

“We didn’t want to chance Rowe’s shoulder,” Dancer said. “No reason to force it right now.”

Dancer liked that everyone who played got to see top-notch competition, and the coach will especially look for Rowe to take the next step.

“Ryan’s still got to improve his fitness,” Dancer said. “If he does, and (if) his footwork discipline is a little bit better, then he can win (against Vallverdu) even on clay.”